Coastal residents and visitors are being urged to report people seen harassing protected Wairarapa fur seals after earlier unconfirmed killings in the region.
Chris Lester, Department of Conservation Wairarapa area manager, said there have been periodic reports of unhealthy seals and occasionally dead seals in the region and less frequent reports of people interfering with seals.
He said there have been instances in the past several years of harassment and killings that include:
September 18, 2007: Three dead fur seals found at Cape Palliser by a member of the public.
The carcasses were in an advanced state of decomposition and DoC rangers took samples from one of the seals, which was found by necropsy at Massey University to have been shot.
The offender or offenders remained unidentified.
January 26, 2009: Carterton police reported that 16 seal cubs had been bludgeoned to death at Ngawi.
Over the same weekend a report was made that another seal had been shot near Ngawi. Neither incident could be confirmed and the offender or offenders still remain unidentified.
Summer 2009/10 (date unconfirmed): A report was made to DoC that children and a dog was harassing a sick seal at Riversdale Beach.
DoC rangers investigated and found that the Riversdale Surf Lifesaving Club had intervened and the incident was resolved.
The seal was sick and died and was buried by surf lifesaving club members.
The harassment or harm of fur seals is an offence under the Marine Mammal Protection Act 1978 and the Wildlife Act 1953, Mr Lester said.
He urged members of the public to promptly report any incidents involving interference or harassment of fur seals in Wairarapa.
Reports can be made to the DoC Hotline at 0800 DOCHOT (0800 36 24 68).
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