'Terribly emotional': Leopard seal pup dies

A female leopard seal sleeps on St Kilda Beach in Dunedin with her pup after giving birth earlier yesterday. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery

The first leopard seal to be born on the New Zealand mainland since 1977 has died.

The pup was born in the shallows of St Kilda Beach in Dunedin yesterday morning.

A statement by a spokesperson for Leopard Seal Sightings New Zealand said the pup was euthanised by the Department of Conservation today.

"The mother left the pup alone this morning and returned to sea.

"Unfortunately the pups condition deteriorated so much the vet determined it would not be able to suckle even if the mother returned to the beach.

"Due to this the Department of Conservation decided it was best to euthanise the pup in an effort not to prolong any suffering."

It was a "terribly emotional time" for everyone involved, the spokesperson said.

The Department of Conservation would work with local iwi to decide the next steps.

The public were asked to stay behind barriers at the beach in case the mother returned.

The spokesperson thanked Dunedin man Dalton Williams who saved the seal pup from drowning after it was abandoned by its mother after being born in the water.