New Zealand Sea Lion Trust

Thanks Dunedin City Council for some great top tips for summer time! ☀️🦭

Thanks to extraordinarily generous support from The Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance - The OPERA, New Zealand Sea Lion Trust is pleased to announce that the total reward in respect of the Catlins sea lion shootings has now been increased to $11,000.

The New Zealand Sea Lion Trust (NZSLT) has increased the reward it is offering for information leading to a conviction for the shooting of a young female pup, in light of evidence that the pup’s mum, Jade, has also been shot and killed.

NZSLT is extremely grateful for its incredible supporters and donors at what has been a very sad time for our team. From the messages of encouragement NZSLT has received, it is clear how outraged the community feels about killing of these peaceful animals.

NZSLT appreciates people getting behind our appeal to seek justice for Jade and her pup. They are helping to send a strong message that this abhorrent behaviour is not acceptable in New Zealand.

If you know any information - please contact DOC or email [email protected]

We’re devastated to share the news that Jade has also been found shot. Any news please contact [email protected]

We're appalled and sickened to find a second New Zealand sea lion/pakake has been shot in Catlins Estuary.

The sea lion, known as Jade, was the mother of the juvenile sea lion recently found shot nearby. It’s a devastating tragedy that both mother and pup have been shot.

Jade was found by a local on Tuesday evening, about 100 metres from where her pup was found dead in late-September. She had begun to decompose, and it’s believed she washed up there during the recent flooding.

We are shocked and deeply disgusted by this sort of behaviour against a protected species. We're determined to find the person responsible and urging the public to contribute any information which may help the investigation. Anyone with any information is asked to come forward by calling 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

The New Zealand Sea Lion Trust is offering a $6000 reward for information leading to a successful prosecution.

Under the Wildlife Act, it is illegal to injure or kill protected native wildlife like sea lions and anyone who does so can face punishments of up to two years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

Read more: https://bit.ly/401ttPY

BREAKING - NECROPSY RESULTS - SEA LION PUP SHOT IN CATLINS

These necropsy results, completed by scientists at Massey University, tell us the sea lion was alive when she was shot. She was last seen alive on Monday 16 September and was reported dead to us on the morning of Sunday 22 September.

The sea lion pup appears to have been shot in the back while lying on her stomach, causing a large amount of bleeding in the abdomen and chest and damage to the lungs, liver, spleen, intestine and spine. At least 25 steel shotgun pellets were found in her body.

DOC Murihiku Operations Manager John McCarroll says the necropsy found the young female sea lion likely died several hours after she was shot.

“Shooting a protected sea lion and leaving it to a painful death is a disgusting act and completely unacceptable.”

Under the Wildlife Act, it is illegal to injure or kill protected native wildlife like sea lions and anyone who does so can face punishments of up to two years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

Read the full report here: https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2024-media-releases/necropsy-confirms-sea-lion-killed-with-shotgun/

We are offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to a successful prosecution around the death of this pup. Please either contact local police or email us at [email protected]

REWARD FOR INFORMATION!

Following the report this week of another sea lion being deliberately shot the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust has decided to offer a reward of $5000 for any evidence that leads to a conviction for this offence.

If you’d like to support us to offer this reward for information through making a donation to the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust, please go to https://www.sealiontrust.org.nz/shop

We are extremely disappointed that there are people who would commit such an act, and we feel that the message needs to be given, loud and clear, that this is not acceptable.

Not only has an endemic species been deliberately killed with a shotgun, but it has been done in such a way that it will have suffered a slow and painful death.

It is important that we learn to share our spaces with other species and remember the beaches, the ocean, the fish, are not ours, but belong to all.

Our sea lions have only recently returned to the mainland of New Zealand after a long absence. They are charismatic and curious animals that will sometimes approach people making them particularly vulnerable to anyone that might intend them harm.

The loss of this young female sea lion is another blow to a small, establishing population that has already experienced low pup survival over the last couple of years. It is especially frustrating that it was a female that began life in such a unique way, 60km up the Clutha River.

If you have any information about this incident please contact the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust at [email protected] or your local police. All information will be passed on to the appropriate authorities and anonymity will be respected. This reward does not offer immunity from prosecution, and will be paid out after a conviction.

Please share far and wide!

We are very upset to share that Jade’s female pup, who was born 60km up the Clutha river earlier this year, was shot and found dead on Monday along the Catlins coastline.

The Trust is extremely disappointed there are people who would commit such an act, especially towards an endemic species that has only recently returned to the mainland after a long absence.

Our sea lions are charismatic and curious animals that will sometimes approach people making them particularly vulnerable to anyone that might intend them harm.

It is especially frustrating that it was a female that began life in such a unique way, 60 km up the Clutha River.

This is another blow to a small, establishing population that has already experienced low pup survival over the last couple of years.

The sea lion’s mother Jade was born under a crib (bach) at Kākā Point in 2016. She was named after the late son of the bach owners.

It is illegal to injure or kill protected native wildlife like sea lions and anyone who does so can face punishments of up to two years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

PLEASE - if you have any further information about this, contact DOC as soon as possible. Any insight or information is hugely appreciated.

Full media releases linked in our bio and below

https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2024-media-releases/shot-sea-lion-a-blow-to-recovering-population/

Photos of Jades pup in February 2024 - credit to Giverny Forbes.

We had a special visitor to our shores this week – a Weddell Seal!

This species lives in the chilly depths of Antarctica, and this is only the second time an individual has made the long trek up to Dunedin’s beaches. The last time we saw one locally was saw one four years ago! There are only very low numbers seen around New Zealand.

Weddell Seals are true seals – meaning they do not have any external ear flaps, cannot turn their hind flippers forward (therefore can not walk on them like our Sea Lions can), and have fur on both surfaces of their flipper. Other species of true seals include the Southern Elephant Seal and the Leopard Seal.

Taken from iNaturalist: Weddell seals are top predators in the Antarctic. They eat an array of fish, bottom feeding prawns, cephalopods and crustaceans. A sedentary adult eats around 10 kg of food a day, while an active adult eats over 50 kg a day. Antarctic cod and silverfish constitute the majority of their diet. They are opportunistic feeders that hunt in different parts of the water column depending on prey availability. Weddell seals hunt in both pelagic and benthic-demersal habitats.

Weddell seals have no natural predators when on fast ice. At sea or on pack ice, they are prey for killer whales and leopard seals, which prey primarily on juveniles and pups.

This 1.5m individual is assumed to be a juvenile male, and is classed as a non-resident native animal (also known as a vagrant).

Thank you for keeping appropriate distance and not disturbing this wonderful visitor!

📸 Giverny Forbes, Hanna Ravn

Who shall be crowned the BOTY?

We’ve gotten a few questions lately on who pakake would support for Bird of the Year, and the answer is clear - all seabirds! 🐧

Doesn’t matter which one, but a vote for is the way to go, so we’ve compiled a little list of inspiration for you all 🪶

Also, did you know that for the 20 years BOTY has run only three coastal and seabirds have won?? Hoiho in 2019, the bar-tailed godwit in 2015, and the fairy tern 2014 🤯

A couple days left to submit a sea lion memory! 🦭

We need a few more to get the celebration book happening.

Such beautiful stories we've received from you all so far!!

We’re on the lookout for someone to join our team! 🦭

The Volunteer Coordinator / Manager role involves:
- Managing volunteer rosters (including communicating with volunteers via email and text)
- Monitor the volunteer@sealiontrust email address
- Organise volunteer induction and info days (1-2 times per year)
- Assist with recruiting volunteers for events
- Maintain H&S documents/waivers
- Bring new ideas and develop a broader volunteer programme.

Please note that this role is a volunteer role in itself, the person would be joining our Advisory Board (a team of super passionate and supportive people) and we are all volunteers ourselves, we currently do not have any paid staff members.

Either fill out this form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gsRrpcYBEBVK7F3YrEybKmaOMIEs5pfczkBSL_zHgfg/viewform?ts=66432ba5&edit_requested=true

Or send an email to [email protected]

We’re celebrating 30 years of pakake returning to our mainland coastlines. And we want to hear from you! Less than 2 weeks to submit your favourite sea lion story! 🦭🩵

Submit here - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14iSfntyaSW-11_Ii9aIR-Ogphw7MVIzOUZledbAerWA/viewform?edit_requested=true

Kia ora!

We are holding a tree planting day at Okia Reserve on Sunday to help increase coastal habitat for wildlife including sea lions, meeting at 10:30am. For details and to RSVP please email [email protected] or flick us a message! Limited spots 🌳🦭

It was great to have a full house last week at Will’s talk! 🦭🐋🐳

Co-chair Shaun presented a brief sea lion season overview before Will shared some great information around local pinniped and cetacean species. A massive thank you to Will Rayment for presenting and to everyone who came out!

Come along to our AGM on Thursday 18th July in the Kākāpo room!

Followed by a talk by Will Rayment.

All welcome to both!

We don’t often focus on the people behind the trust, but let’s spotlight them and all the voluntary work they do!

Last week, we held a retreat for our Trustees (Bryony / Shaun - co chair, Hanna - education, Mike - treasurer, Chloe - legal, Hannah - social media) to come together to talk the future of sea lions around our coast. There was lots of discussion around different issues and ideas! Some great conversations were had in a very special place - Taieri Mouth, where mum first pupped 30 years ago this season. It was a very special time and we all cherished taking a moment to celebrate Mum and all the sea lions that have returned to breed on our coastlines.

Cat (administration), Giverny (webmaster) and Jordana (DOC liaison) from our advisory board joined us on the second day to further these conversations. We have some really exciting things coming up and can’t wait to keep advocating and conserving these special creatures!

A massive thank you to all our wider supporters along with our trustees and advisory board - this great mahi couldn’t happen without you! 🩵🦭