Another sea lion – the mother of a pup found fatally shot last month – has herself been killed by someone using a firearm in the Catlins.
The sea lion named Jade is the mother to the juvenile pup shot two weeks ago. Jade was found about 100m from where her pup was found dead and it’s believed her body washed up there after recent flooding.
DOC staff are shocked and say it’s another major setback for the species’ Southland population, with only seven pups born this year.
“It’s a tragedy both mother and pup have been shot… It goes without saying these kinds of incidents must stop,” said DOC South Island operations director Aaron Fleming.
“We don’t know when, where or why these sea lions have been shot, or if they were shot at the same time. Any information could help.”
The NZ Sea Lion Trust is offering a $6000 reward for information leading to a successful prosecution.
Donations from the public had raised the reward from $5000. Fleming said Jade was well known and cared for in the community.
A vet performed an x-ray and examination, which found about 50 shotgun pellets. Some will be forensically tested to see if they match the pellets found in her pup.
“She was lying down and facing away from the shooter, with most pellets entering her chest and spine,” said Fleming.
NZ Sea Lion Trust Co-chair Shaun McConkey said although the sea lion population in the Subantartic continues to decline, one positive is their lives seem to be a bit easier on the mainland, which makes it even more heartbreaking when something like this happens.
Sea lions have a threat status of nationally vulnerable after being wiped out on the mainland by human hunting.
“250 years on and we’re still doing the same thing. The killing of a breeding female is a devastating loss to a small population that has only recently returned to the area,” says McConkey.
Under the Wildlife Act, it is illegal to injure or kill protected native wildlife like sea lions and anyone who does so can face punishments of up to two years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000.
Anyone with information on the sea lion’s death is asked to contact DOC on 0800 362 468.