DOC to lay charges after brutal seal attack in Auckland

The Department of Conservation (DOC) will lay charges against two men who appear to have brutally attacked a defenceless young fur seal as it explored Henderson Creek in West Auckland last night.

Auckland biodiversity programme manager Phil Brown says DOC is saddened by the attack, and takes any attacks on animals seriously.

“We’re currently working with the police and will lay charges under the Marine Mammals Protection Act, plus possible further charges under the Wildlife Act and the Animal Welfare Act,” he says.

Under the Marine Mammals Protection Act there are strong penalties with fines of up to $250,000 and six months’ jail.

DOC relies on the public to report incidents like this, and is very grateful to the witnesses who reported what they saw to the police.

“Thanks to their actions, the police apprehended the two suspects and our DOC ranger was able to find the seal and take it to Auckland Zoo for medical treatment.”

When the DOC ranger found the seal it was bleeding from its nose and muzzle, and had swelling on one side of its head. It is currently being treated at the New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine at Auckland Zoo.

The seal appears to be more comfortable today and is able to swim in a small pool. It is being given pain relief, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and fluids to rehydrate it, and vets will try to get it back on fish as soon as possible. It will be monitored closely for the next few days and, all going well, could possibly be released this weekend.

While there have been a number of high-profile attacks on marine mammals lately, there is no evidence of any links or trends.

Thankfully these incidents are not that common — DOC gets about three or four reports of deliberate attacks on marine mammals each year, and there have been 11 reports since 2007 involving seals, sea lions and leopard seals. Last year a Southland man was sentenced to four months’ jail for his part in an attack on a leopard seal.

“Seals are a natural part of our environment and the fact they are returning is an encouraging sign for the health of our coastline and rivers,” says Mr Brown.

“Most people value and respect seals and will be equally sickened by this senseless attack.”

In another seal attack case, DOC continues to work with the police to investigate who was responsible for killing 25 seals at Ohau Point near Kaikoura in early December.

Unlike the Henderson case there were no direct witnesses, which makes the process much harder. The public have helped us out with some information, which has been passed to police. No charges have been laid in the Kaikoura case at this stage and we are still asking people to come forward with information.

ENDS

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