The fur seal in Andersons Bay. Photo / Otago Daily Times
The fur seal in Andersons Bay. Photo / Otago Daily Times
A New Zealand fur seal surprised a gang of road workers when it emerged from a hedge in Dunedin more than 1km from the sea yesterday.
The 150kg seal then led his would-be rescuers on a merry dance through a succession of backyards, before happily ending up back in thewater.
The fur seal in Andersons Bay. Photo / Otago Daily Times
The male adult was spotted coming out of a hedge on Spottiswoode St in Andersons Bay about 8.20am, before making its way along Gresham St and ducking down a pathway into No 16.
From there, it travelled through four backyards, before settling on a sunny, daisy-strewn patch of grass under a clothesline in the backyard of 26a Gresham St.
The fur seal in Andersons Bay. Photo / Otago Daily Times
"You'll occasionally get sea lions wandering about, but it's unusual to see fur seals this far inland. It's also breeding season, so most of the big males are holding harems down the coastline."
DoC staff considered sedating the seal, but learned a vet would not be available until late in the day.
The decision was made to attempt to capture it in a body sock net, roll it on to a board and lift it on to the back of a ute.
The seal noisily protested at some length during this indignity, but it was safely transported to Tomahawk Beach, where it gave a final snort of disgust and was last seen heading into the surf at 2.10pm.
"It's always good to see them swim away. It went very smoothly. They're wild animals, so you never know how it's going to go," Mr Fyfe said.
DoC staff were mystified as to how the seal came to be in the area.