By Deanna Harris
While the Department of Conservation (DOC) is laying charges against two men for attacking a young fur seal, they continue to hunt for those responsible for killing 25.
DOC announced yesterday that two men will be charged after a young fur seal was attacked as it explored Henderson Creek in West Auckland on Monday night.
“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,” says Auckland biodiversity programme manager Phil Brown says DOC.
Under the Marine Mammals Protection Act there are strong penalties with fines of up to $250,000 and six months’ jail.
Meanwhile DOC is still working with police to investigate who was responsible for killing 25 seals at Ohau Point near Kaikoura in early December.
Mr Brown says unlike the Henderson case there were no direct witnesses, which makes the process much harder.
He says the public have helped with some information, which has been passed to police but no charges have been laid in the Kaikoura case at this stage.
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.
“Most people value and respect seals and will be equally sickened by this senseless attack,” says Mr Brown.
The young seal which was attacked on Monday is currently being treated at the New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine at Auckland Zoo.
Mr Brown says it will be monitored closely for the next few days and, all going well, could possibly be released this weekend.
3 News
source: newshub archive
