Subj : 'Delightful shock': Fur seal causes a stir in Nelson
To   : All
From : News Person
Date : Mon Apr 08 2024 01:31 pm

Morning commuters in Nelson's CBD have had a "delightful shock" this morning
after spotting a seal on the bank of the Maitai River, with DOC reminding
residents to "give the seal space".


Nelson resident Cheryl Keene said she had "never seen anything like it"
during the 60 years she had lived in the area.


"It's causing quite a delightful shock to everyone that has come out to see
it," she told 1News.


"I've never seen one this far out the river, or one at all!" she laughed.


Keene said one of her colleagues came in to tell the others of the furry
friend out by the river.


"I probably saw it shortly after 8am," she said.


She said the spot is popular with dog walkers at this time of day, but people
were "making sure dogs are on their lead and being very respectful".


'Give the seal space'
Department of Conservation (DOC) Motueka operations manager Chris Golding
told 1News rangers "don't plan to intervene with the seal on the Maitai River
bank" at this stage.


"It's not far from the sea and will make its way back to sea in due course.
We expect if the seal is disturbed or alarmed, it will go into the river and
swim away.


"We ask that people give the seal space and to keep dogs away from it,
staying at least 20 metres away from the seal," he said.


Golding said seals can wander as far as 15 km inland, often by following
rivers and streams and appear in unusual places, such as a paddock, roadside
or an inner-city street.


"This is a normal occurrence from exploratory behaviour."


Seals are wild animals and will defend themselves if they feel threatened.
Adult seals can move surprisingly quickly on land.


"While they can look harmless, seals can inflict serious injuries to dogs or
people and can carry infectious diseases," said Golding.


He reminded people that it is an offence under the Marine Mammals Protection
Act 1978 to disturb, harass, harm, injure or kill a seal, including potential
prosecution for a dog owner whose dog attacks a seal.


"DOC takes a 'hands off' approach to seals. They are capable and resilient
and, given time and space, they usually find their way home. If people find a
seal it's usually best to leave it alone, however, there are exceptions.


"We will intervene if a seal is in notably poor condition, in immediate
danger, causing disruption or being harassed."


He said natural behaviours such as sneezing, flapping flippers and looking
scrawny or distressed do not require human intervention.


Once near extinction due to widespread hunting, New Zealand fur seals are now
experiencing a population comeback and recolonising much of their former
range.


This means more of them are being spotted playing along the country's rocky
shorelines throughout mainland New Zealand, the Chatham Islands and the
subantarctic islands.


The seal is not the first animal to cause a stir in Nelson's main city, as a
lone white swan called Aragorn previously had to be relocated after he became
notorious for terrorising people, including children, on the lower Maitai
River.

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