Fur seals relax at Westshore Beach

A New Zealand fur seal mother and her pup surfaced at Westshore yesterday. Photo / Corban Lugt

A New Zealand fur seal and her pup surfaced for a spot of swimming and sunbathing at Westshore yesterday.

Keen amateur photographer Corban Lugt, 15, jumped out of bed to snap the creatures about 8am as they lounged on the rocks and took a dip in the water at the end of Whakariri Ave.

A seal pup has been visiting the Bay with its mother.

Keeping his distance he zoomed in from afar and watched the mother swim while her baby, covered in a brown fuzz, made the most of some sunshine.

"I didn't tell anyone they were there so they wouldn't be disturbed," Corban told Hawke's Bay Today.

These were the first seals he had seen in detail as previous sightings had always been in the water.

"Over summer I heard of a couple and one lived around the Sailing Club in Napier," he added.

Adult females grow up to 1.5m long and can weigh between 30-50kg. They suckle their young for about 300 days, alternating foraging trips of one to 20 days at sea, with one to two days at the rookery to feed their offspring.

As the year goes on and pups grow the females take longer and longer foraging trips.

Once nearly extinct, the New Zealand fur seal population has grown to an estimated 200,000 - half of which are in Australia.

It was not uncommon for seals to take to the shore in Hawke's Bay at this time of year, and while cute to look at spectators were reminded to keep a distance of at least 20m.

"Although very charismatic, they are wild animals and should be treated with respect," a Department of Conservation spokesperson said.

"In general seals and sea lions should be enjoyed from a distance without interference."

DoC should be notified if locals spot an animal that is severely injured, entangled in debris or being harassed in any way.