7 November 2016

Critically threatened sea lion pup shot and killed on Otago Peninsula

Department of Conservation (DOC) staff on Saturday recovered the body of 11-month-old female sea lion/pakake Rua on a beach near Portobello after being shot. They are asking the public to help find who is responsible.

The sea lion had a puncture wound in her side consistent with a bullet hole and also a deep cut on the other side of her body. This morning her body was sent to the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences at Massey University for a necropsy to determine details about the cause of her death.

DOC Coastal Otago operations manager Annie Wallace said DOC and many others in the community are devastated by this incident.

“The brutal senseless shooting of a defenceless threatened native animal is a tragedy. Rua was one of only 11 sea lion pups born on the peninsula last summer. The impact of her death on the recovery of the New Zealand sea lion is not to be underestimated. The few female sea lions around Dunedin are precious to the survival of the species. Rua was an otherwise completely healthy pup and we have every reason to believe she would have gone on to be a productive breeder,” Ms Wallace said.

New Zealand Sea Lion Trust trustee, Amelia Saxby, said, “To learn that such an abominable act can be carried out by a misguided person or group on one of our most iconic endangered species, in the wildlife capital of New Zealand, fills us with horror and shame. These feelings will be shared by the many locals who appreciate and help care for this taoka species. We hope those who carried out this reprehensible act are found and face the harshest penalty. We hope anyone who has information will come forward.”

Otakou member of Te Roopu Kaitiaki, Hoani Langsbury, said, “The loss of this female is significant to the declining population of New Zealand sea lions, which are a taoka or treasured species held in high regard. This is a species that is rare, with only limited number of females on the mainland. The death of this sea lion is significant to survival of the species on the mainland.”

A report has been made to the police and they are currently investigating the incident.

DOC is asking anyone who may have information about this incident to contact the Dunedin DOC office on 03 477 0677, the DOC hotline 0800 362 468 or the Dunedin Central Police Station on 03 471 4800. Given the nature this incident, help from the public will be critical in solving this case.

Rua was last seen alive on Allans Beach on the peninsula in September.

She made the headlines last summer when her birth at Warrington beach was embraced by the Warrington community, who named her, watched over, protected and cared for her.

It is illegal to injure or kill sea lions and anyone apprehended faces serious penalties, including up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 and five years’ prison and a fine of up to $100,000 under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Background information

Several sea lions have been found shot dead on Otago Peninsula and Rakiura/Stewart Island in recent years, mostly with small calibre (.22) rifles.

The New Zealand sea lion is found only in New Zealand, and is one of the world’s rarest sea lions. With only about 10,000 remaining, their threat status is nationally critical, the highest threat classification in NZ – a status shared with kiwi and kakapo.

Breeding is mostly restricted to the NZ sub Antarctic, although a slow return to mainland NZ is now occurring. Otago Peninsula is one of the few breeding sites for this species.

All sea lion pups born on Otago Peninsula are tagged as part of ongoing research by DOC, the University of Otago and the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust.

A sea lion threat management plan is currently being developed by DOC and MPI.

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