The discovery of a fur seal in Western Australia's Kimberley region has left scientists and rangers baffled.

The animal was spotted swimming off Broome Port two weeks ago, more than 2000 kilometres north of Perth, and thousands of kilometres from its normal WA habitat.

The sight of the seal playing in the water prompted Kimberley Port Authority workers to alert local rangers.

A Yawuru ranger spotted a seal very far from home. ( Supplied: Department of Parks and Wildlife )

Marine Park Coordinator Chris Nutt said he believed the port workers were playing an elaborate prank when he received the call.

"They contacted our Yawuru Rangers and suggested there was a seal out at the port," Mr Nutt said.

"We thought it was a misidentification."

Mr Nutt said he was stumped as to how the animal wound up thousands of kilometres away from its usual habitat in the southern parts of Western Australia.

"It definitely raised a few eyebrows," he said.

"This is really quite a strange occurrence; we know it has come from the south, just don't know what colony it comes from."

While looking after a region as naturally diverse as the Kimberley brings plenty of strange animal reports, Mr Nutt said the lost seal was by far the weirdest.

Broome is not usually home to fur seals and scientists do not know why one paid a visit to the Kimberley. ( ABC Kimberley: Joshua Spong )

Despite the unusual circumstances, he said the seal looked in good shape

"[The] seal looked very happy, very healthy," Mr Nutt said.

"It was just hanging out lying on its back, its fat and shiny."

What type of seal

Holly Raudino is a research scientist with the Department of Parks and Wildlife and said the seal was definitely a fur seal.

Both New Zealand and sub-Antarctic fur seals are regular sights off WA, but never in the warm waters of the Kimberley.

"[Both are] meant to be in Western Australia, but not in Broome," Ms Raudino said.

Camels are common in the Kimberley, but seals are not. ( ABC Kimberley: Vanessa Mills )

"It's unusual that it's in Broome … it's a long way from its range."

She said the seal could have been exploring outside its normal range, and become separated from its colony.

No more sightings

Outside of the single sighting at Broome Port, Mr Nutt said the animal has not been seen since.

"It was such a strange phenomenon, haven't seen it since," he said.

"Maybe it's gone back with the grey nomads?"

Ms Raudino urged anyone who saw the seal to contact rangers and give the animal space.

"Hopefully it heads further south to find its kind," she said.