<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A beloved seal who became a local icon on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="_blank" title="Victoria's"><span>Victoria's</span></a><span> Mornington Peninsula has died.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The body of a seal, believed to belong to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/seal-spotted-blocking-traffic-victoria/5767272d-09ce-4b4f-aaa8-a462453dc89f" rel="" target="_blank" title="Sammy the seal,"><span>Sammy the seal,</span></a><span> was found near Coral Cove beach in Mornington yesterday afternoon</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A spokesperson for Zoos Victoria's Marine Response Unit said there is a "strong likelihood" that the deceased seal is Sammy.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-winners-losers-workers-first-home-buyers-property-investors-ndis/55ede4e3-2ea7-4315-93f9-0f08ca98d2b3"><strong><span>The winners and losers from the federal budget</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-13-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/98f78294-e423-47a6-a7d0-023934dd833f" target="" title=""><strong><span>Australian spy plane earmarked for Hormuz mission</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There is a strong likelihood that the seal is Sammy, but we can't confirm it definitively," the spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"DNA testing is not possible when we don't have an original sample from the seal in question."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/sammy-the-seal-victoria-dies/7046fee7-c408-45ee-9851-7cf8ab92f288" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The MRU told the ABC it is "horrible news" for the Mornington community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sammy was a regular roamer across the seaside tourist region, delighting visitors and even stopping traffic on occasion after wandering out onto the road.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The marine animal was so beloved, he even became the subject of a Facebook fan page with over 7800 followers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bec, the owner of Sammy's Facebook fan page, shared the sad news with a tribute to the town's "beautiful chonky sea sausage".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I know so many of you are going to be devastated by this news because somehow this big beautiful boy became part of all our lives," she wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What started as a few little updates turned into an entire community loving him, looking out for him and smiling every time someone spotted him lounging around the Peninsula like he owned the place.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Thank you to everyone who cared about him, checked on him, sent photos and loved him the way you all did. The beaches are going to feel a little quieter without our boy around.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Rest easy Sammy. Stay moist forever little mate."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The MRU attended the scene yesterday and retrieved Sammy's body.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Seals are a common sight along the Mornington Peninsula, however Sammy sightings were of particular interest to locals and visitors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>PROPERTY TAX CHANGES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-changes-to-negative-gearing-capital-gains-tax-discount-explained/0a2e7bcf-5c7b-42bc-88d1-788c34aa9eb2"><strong><span>Chalmers takes a razor blade to negative gearing and CGT discount</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In April, Sammy </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/seal-spotted-blocking-traffic-victoria/5767272d-09ce-4b4f-aaa8-a462453dc89f" rel="" target="_blank" title="caused traffic chaos after he was spotted sunbathing on Point Nepean Road in Dromana."><span>caused traffic chaos after he was spotted sunbathing on Point Nepean Road in Dromana.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Before his death, fans were asked not to publicly share Sammy's location after several incidents where he was harassed or chased.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sammy's cause of death remains unknown, and it may take several weeks for the MRU to determine it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>