Source: Radio New Zealand
Police staff escorting a seal pup that had made its way into New Plymouth CBD back to the foreshore. NZ Police
An adventurous seal pup got a full police escort back to the New Plymouth foreshore last night after wandering into the CBD.
Police posted a photograph of the errant seal on their Central Region Facebook page.
It’s on the footpath outside Chaos Cafe on Brougham Street with three officers directing it down the road towards the Huatoki Stream and the ocean.
“This seal pup went for a wander a bit too far from home last night, but staff were on hand to escort him safely back to the sea,” the post said.
“A happy ending for a curious little explore.”
The post had received hundreds of ‘likes’ and more than a few comments about how cute the situation was.
“Gave the town the ‘seal of approval’,” said Jenny Keenan.
While RJ Henderson thought it was a “fishy case”.
And Carolyn Morphus wondered if the officers would be enforcing the letter of the law.
“Were they gunna arrest it for sleeping rough, lol.”
Chaos Cafe is about 300 metres away from the New Plymouth foreshore where it is not uncommon to see fur seals resting among the rocks along the Coastal Walkway.
The city has a resident population of fur seals (kekeno) located on the Ngā Motu / Sugar Loaf Islands in the Tapuae Marine Reserve, just off the coast from Port Taranaki.
Pups are born during the summer months, with most seals returning to the sea by mid-January.
On its website, the Department of Conservation says it is not uncommon for fur seals to “venture several kilometres inland following rivers and streams”.
“They can appear in unusual places, such as a paddocks, backyards, roadsides or inner-city streets. This is normal behaviour, particularly for young animals as they explore their environment.”
DOC advises people who encounter fur seals to leave them alone.
“Fur seals are wild animals and will defend themselves if they feel threatened. They can move surprisingly quickly on land. While fur seals can look harmless, they can inflict serious injuries to dogs or people and can carry infectious diseases.”
You should:
- stay at least 20 m away
- don’t disturb seals by making loud noises or throwing things
- keep dogs and children away
- don’t attempt to feed seals
- never attempt to touch a seal.
It says the following are normal behaviours and you don’t need to intervene.
You may see fur seals:
- sneezing, coughing and with weepy eyes
- drifting in the waves
- flapping flippers as if stranded
- immobile
- fighting
- pups spending time away from their mothers.
DOC’s website points out it is an offence under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 to disturb, harass, harm, injure or kill a seal. A dog owner whose dog attacks a seal could face prosecution.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
