Beaten seal pup put down

The seal was found bleeding and with swelling on one side of its head. Photo / Auckland Zoo

A baby seal which was attacked in West Auckland on Monday night has been put down.

Auckland Zoo locum veterinarian Nic Masters said the fur seal was euthanised last night.

The seal was taken to the New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine at the zoo after it was bashed with a boat oar by two men, who left the bloodied mammal to float down Henderson Creek.

The Department of Conservation is investigating the incident and considering whether the two men, a 39-year-old from Massey and a 22-year-old from Henderson, will face charges under the Marine Mammals Protection Act, which could lead to fines of up to $250,000 and six months in jail.

The seal was found by a DOC ranger bleeding from its eyes, nose and muzzle and suffering from swelling on one side of its head.

Mr Masters said the seal was given fluids and pain relief, and was in a stable condition 24 hours after it was brought in.

However in the following days the mammal lost sight firstly in one eye and then in the other, and the decision was made to put it down.

"We felt it was very unlikely it would recover its sight," Mr Masters said. "It couldn't cope in the wild.

"The only humane thing was to put it down, which is tragic."