Video has emerged showing an endangered leopard seal lying dead on a beach in Dargaville.
Local Shane Searle shot the video and exclaimed on camera he had seen the seal on the beach, alive, just the day before.
"Some motherf**ker has just shot this leopard seal. There's no fresh marks on the beach," he said.
"I was only here yesterday, but what a piece of shit. I hope he gets his f***ing just desserts, motherf**ker."
Department of Conservation operations manager for the Kauri Coast Stephen Soole confirmed to Newsroom the seal had been shot with what was believed to be a rifle.
"We are beginning the initial stages of our investigation, which will involve the police," he told Newsroom.
"Today the seal will be uplifted off the beach with the intension of doing an autopsy."
Leopard seals are protected under the Wildlife Act and the Marine Mammals Act. Anyone caught harming them can face fines of up to $250,000 and up to two years in prison.
Newshub.
