A juvenile sea lion has reportedly been shot and killed in the Catlins, a loss which the Department of Conservation says is a “huge setback” for the recovering population.
The female sea lion, or pakake, was born 60km up the Clutha River Mata-au this year.
It is a threatened species which has only returned to the mainland in recent years, according to the Department of Conservation (DOC).
DOC murihiku operations manager John McCarroll said the reported shooting is a “disgusting act” and “completely unacceptable”, and added they want to “find out who has done this”.
“Staff received reports of a distressed sea lion in the Catlins Estuary on Monday morning. When a ranger went out to investigate, they found the young female had died.
“The sea lion had serious injuries to its hindquarters which look to have been caused by a firearm, and steel shot believed to be from a shotgun cartridge was recovered from the animal.”
McCarroll added staff are appalled someone seemingly shot the animal and left it to die a slow, painful death.
“Our best guess is the sea lion has been bearing these painful injuries for over a week, which would have affected its ability to swim and hunt.
“We don’t know where, when or why the sea lion was shot. They are mobile animals and this juvenile had been seen around wider Catlins Estuary area and up the Clutha River Mata-au earlier this year.”
A necropsy is underway, with the dead sea lion being sent to Massey University to confirm the cause of death.
McCarroll said the loss will compromise future population growth in the region.
“There are very few female sea lions in the region so each one is extremely important.
“We’re privileged to see the species return and as the population increases, people will need to get better at sharing our coasts with sea lions. This includes driving carefully in coastal areas and keeping dogs on leads when sea lions may be present.
“If a sea lion approaches you are best to try and make yourself appear boring, back away slowly, and put something like a backpack between yourself and the sea lion.”
NZ Sea Lion Trust co-chairman Shaun McConkey said the trust is extremely disappointed someone would commit such an act.
“Our sea lions are charismatic and curious animals that will sometimes approach people making them particularly vulnerable to anyone that might intend them harm.
“It is especially frustrating that it was a female that began life in such a unique way, 60km up the Clutha River.
“This is another blow to a small, establishing population that has already experienced low pup survival over the last couple of years.”
It is against the law to injure or kill protected native wildlife like sea lions. Anyone who does so can face punishments of up to two years imprisonment or a fine of up to $250,000.
Currently, the sea lions have a threat status of “nationally vulnerable” and are about 12,000 in population.
DOC said about 96% of the population lives in the Subantarctic Islands and is in decline. On the mainland, there are small but growing populations in Rakiura/Stewart Island, Murihiku/Southland, and Otago.
Anyone with information on the sea lion’s death is asked to contact DOC on 0800 362 468.
