Ocean Sentry
(From stuff.co.nz)- The sea lion, one of the few ever recorded this far north, was found by a member of the public about a kilometre upstream of the Wairau Lagoons on the weekend.
South Marlborough Department of Conservation biodiversity programme manager Phil Bradfield examined the body of the sea lion yesterday. He said it had massive head injuries which showed it had been repeatedly bludgeoned over the head with a large piece of wood or something similar.
He said the killing was “an incredibly irresponsible thing to do” and yet another blow to the endangered species.
Just 5000 to 8000 New Zealand sea lions are known to exist in the world and usually live on sub-Antarctic Islands, particularly the Auckland Islands. They are sometimes spotted on the Otago coast.
Mr Bradfield said the sea lions, which were generally passive and no threat to humans, had a high mortality rate as they were often drowned by fishing trawlers.
Mr Bradfield took samples of the dead sea lion to send to Massey University for research. He would like anyone who has information relating to the sea lion’s death to call him on 572 9100.
