Rescued seal found dead

A fur seal freed after being found wrapped in a piece of fishing net has died. File photo / NZ Herald

A fur seal freed after being found wrapped in a piece of fishing net last week has died, the Department of Conservation says.

The young seal was found last week with green fishing net around its neck in Wellington's Houghton Bay.

It was freed and released apparently in good health but was found dead in Houghton Bay on Monday, DOC spokeswoman Kirstie Knowles said.

"Despite our initial confidence in the likely survival of the seal, the injuries inflicted by the fishing net must have been too great."

- NZPA