• Temporary traffic halt after seal appears in a street
• Authorities step in to return it to its habitat

Traffic briefly stopped in a coastal town in Australia’s Victoria state on Friday after a seal decided to rest in the middle of a road, in an unusual scene that drew the attention of residents and drivers.

The seal, nicknamed “Sammy” by some locals, was spotted sleeping calmly on a street in the town of Dromana, lying in the sun with no regard for nearby traffic.

Local police took precautionary measures by placing cone barriers around the animal to protect it and alert drivers, while the seal appeared completely unbothered by what was happening around it.

A local resident, Laura Ellen, said she was surprised when she came across the scene while passing through the area, adding that the animal is usually seen in different locations at unpredictable times.

She added: “He usually sleeps all day, but seeing him on the road was funny — I’ve never seen him do that before.”

Later, wildlife rescue teams intervened and guided the seal back to the beach before the road was reopened and traffic returned to normal.

Seals are a common sight along Victoria’s coastline, and local authorities warn that approaching or feeding them is illegal.