Sea lion found dead in the Catlins was killed with a shotgun

The gruesome shotgun killing of a sea lion is under investigation with the Department of Conservation today revealing disturbing new details about the animal's demise.

DoC staff received reports of a distressed sea lion in the Catlins Estuary last Monday morning but when a ranger went out to investigate, the young female sea lion was dead.

DoC Murihiku operations manager John McCarroll today told Crux that Massey University scientists have done an examination of the juvenile sea lion/pakake and confirmed she was shot.

“She was alive and in good condition at the time. At least 25 steel pellets from a shotgun were found within her body.

“She 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."

Staff are appalled someone has inflicted these gruesome injuries on a protected species which is just getting re-established in the Catlins.

“We are awaiting testing to determine when she was shot. We still do not know where, when or why she was shot.

“The public has provided some information which we are following up on. We would welcome further information from the public, anyone who can help can call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

“The NZ Sea Lion Trust are offering a $5,000 reward for evidence leading to a conviction.

“The loss of this juvenile female is a significant setback to the Catlins sea lion population. Sea lions restarted breeding in the Catlins back in 2006, and so far 45 have been born there, though a number of those have passed away.

“In the 2023/24 breeding season there were 13 breeding age females and seven pups born. It takes four years for a female to reach breeding age. Given the low numbers, every female is extremely important to the population.”

The female sea lion was born 60 kilometres up the Clutha River Mata-Au this year, and had been seen around the wider Catlins Estuary area and up the Clutha River Mata-au earlier this year.

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.

Pakake have a threat status of 'nationally vulnerable' and number about 12,000. About 96 percent of the population lives down in the Subantarctic Islands and is in decline. On the Mainland, there are small but growing populations in Rakiura/Stewart Island, Murihiku/Southland, and Otago.

Main image (Giverny Forbes): The shot sea lion at the site it was born in Tuapeka, about 60 kilometres up the Clutha/Mata-Au River, in February.