DoC investigates after woman seen throwing seaweed at Kaikōura seal

The Department of Conservation has launched an investigation after a woman was spotted “harassing” a seal on the Kaikoura Peninsula. Photo / Reddit

An investigation has been launched after a woman was spotted allegedly “harassing” a seal on the Kaikōura Peninsula.

A video circulating on social media showed a woman throwing a bunch of seaweed on a seal lying on some rocks.

The Department of Conservation (DoC) South Marlborough operations manager Stacey Wrenn said the behaviour in the video was disappointing to see.

“It’s not acceptable to disturb our native species like this,” Wrenn said.

She said the incident has been reported to DoC and an investigation will be launched.

The video was posted to Reddit this morning, which described the incident as “tourists harassing seals at Kaikōura Peninsula”.

The caption said the poster allegedly saw what looked like tourists throwing small rocks at a resting seal, before the video was taken.

The anonymous poster told the Herald the video was taken about 2pm on Sunday.

“Kekeno [New Zealand fur seal] are a taonga species for local iwi Ngāti Kuri and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Like all our marine mammals, they are a protected species. It’s an offence under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 to disturb, harass, harm, injure or kill them,” Wrenn said.

She said DoC asks visitors to enjoy watching wildlife from a distance.

DoC’s guidelines for watching seals are:

• Stay at least 20m away
• Don’t disturb seals by making loud noises or throwing things
• Keep dogs and children away
• Don’t feed the seals
• Never attempt to touch a seal.

Wrenn said this is for the safety of seals and people, because disturbing or changing the natural behaviour of a seal can have negative consequences for the animal.

“At this time of year, mothers can even abandon pups if they are disturbed.

“We can’t be everywhere and rely on the public to help out when they see unacceptable behaviour around wildlife,” Wrenn said.

She urged people to “politely” ask others to back off if someone is getting too close to a seal or other native animal.

Wrenn said DoC received several reports of visitors on the Kaikōura Peninsula getting too close or disturbing seals this summer.

She asked anyone with more information to contact DoC and quote CLE-11457.

Police said they had not been notified of the incident.

Seals face tough few years

DoC said Kaikōura is a stronghold for seals, but the local colonies have had a tough few years.

In 2024, DoC found a new strain of canine distemper virus in the Kaikōura fur seal population.

This has been linked to disease and mortality because it causes respiratory illness and suppresses the immune system.

In the spring of the year before, many fur seals died of starvation because of low food availability, DoC said.

Researchers have fitted satellite trackers and dive data collectors to eight female Kaikōura fur seals with pups this season to help them understand what the animals do in the oceans and where and when they’re feeding.

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