Date: 24 September 2009

Seal ordeal

The start of the seal pup weaning season has prompted the Department of Conservation (DOC) to remind the public that seals are resilient and usually best left to their own devices.

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A seal pup, believed to be sick, was picked up in Picton and brought to a Wellington vet by a member of the public. However, taking the seal out of its environment in all likelihood caused the animal further stress and suffering though the ordeal of being transported to Wellington, presumably by ferry in the back of a car. The seal in the end had to be euthanased.

DOC’s Poneke Area biodiversity manager, Peter Simpson stressed that it is not appropriate for members of the public to attempt to move, or assist adult seals or pups.

Seals are fascinating creatures that people are encouraged to watch and enjoy respectfully from a safe distance. People should avoid coming between fur seals and the sea and dead or live seals should never be touched. Even if they are sick or injured they may be capable of inflicting serious injury. They also harbour infectious diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis and salmonella that can be transmitted to humans and are difficult to treat. Seals are very resilient and can recover from the most horrendous injuries without intervention.

“NZ fur seals are wild animals and should be treated as such. Most seals reported as injured or sick are just resting and should be left alone,” said Mr Simpson.

“During storms Cook Strait is a bit like a washing machine and seals can become tired. The seals come ashore for a bit of rest and sleep.” At this time of year there are quite a few young pups that “have left home” and are on the move. They are quite capable of looking after themselves”.

NZ fur seals have been found in unexpected places such as backyards, drains and streets and earlier this month a seal pup that had swum up the Hutt River and climbed over the stop bank had to be "bailed" out of the Lower Hutt police station. Mr Simpson was phoned around 5.30am by police after they had removed the seal pup from a carpark with a request to collect the young seal. The Police had taken the seal pup to the police station, and he was bemused to find resting peacefully in a police cell. The pup was relocated to Eastbourne beach.
DOC’s relationship with seals is based on minimum intervention, only coming to the aid of seals if they are severely injured, entangled in marine debris, or under threat from people or dogs, which may have been the case for this youngster had the law not intervened.

If a seal is sick, injured or being harassed, members of the public should contact DOC on 0800 DOCHOT (0800 362 468).

Further Information

http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/nz-fur-seal/you-can-help/

When to contact DOC

If you find a seal that is:

• severely injured
• entangled in marine debris
• being harassed by people or dogs
call the DOC HOTline 0800 362 468.
When not to contact DOC

The following is normal behaviour for seals:

• regurgitating, sneezing or coughing
• "crying" - these are natural moisture secretions
• a young seal spending time away from its mother
• drifting in the waves
• flapping its flippers in the air as if stranded
• immobile
• fighting

ENDS

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