Sea lions chilling out on city beaches

A group of female sea lions laze at Smaills Beach yesterday. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

The high number of sea lions relaxing at Smaills Beach is a ''positive sign'' people are learning not to disturb them, New Zealand Sea Lion Trust chairman Steve Broni says.

Yesterday, there were eight female sea lions on the beach, which was the most seen around that area in recent years, Mr Broni said.

''We take it as a positive sign, because Smaills is a beach where people take dogs and stuff as well. So if they are feeling comfortable enough to hang out there, that's a big tick to the Dunedin public that they are taking on messages to keep dogs under control.''

He advised people to give the animals space, especially if they were walking dogs.

In general, sea lion numbers were ''creeping up'', Mr Broni said.

''We're hoping for a good breeding season coming up as well.''

Although the animals were still breeding in the usual spots, such as Victory Beach, Sandfly Bay and Allans Beach, there was a trend of them moving north to Long Beach and Warrington.

At this time of year, females were generally looking for places to give birth. They sought beaches with tree cover nearby, Mr Broni said.

''As they drift north, they're having pups in an old pine plantation. They want to have their pups somewhere where the males aren't going to continually try and mate with them.''

They would usually return to a beach if they gave birth there one year and had a ''good experience''.

Different areas had different challenges for volunteers in terms of sea lion conservation.
For example, at Warrington they would educate freedom campers on conduct around the animals.

At Tomahawk Beach there were often sea lions going up into the dunes, but the trust had no record of a pup being born there, Mr Broni said.

jono.edwards@odt.co.nz