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New Zealand Seals.
Ohope Beach Nature Pages.
Contributed by Rosemary Tully of Whakatane Bird Rescue.
Photos by Rosemary Tully and Alex Eagles Tully.
 Every
year from autumn to spring the New Zealand fur seal visits our area.
The seals use Whale Island (Moutohora) as a hauling out place.
Here they rest between going out to catch their food.
Some may have come from the South Island with their pups.
They leave their pups on shore while they go looking for food, and this
is when the public may find young fur seals on the beach.
Do not get between a seal and the water and do not handle them.
It is as well to remind people that it is an offence to harm or interfere
with marine mammals, this includes seals.
(Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978)
Seals will be found on the beaches or the inner harbour and in most
cases will just need time to rest.
Only if you can see that the seal has bad cuts etc, will you need to notify
the Department of Conservation.
It is natural for the eyes to weep.
Dogs and people should keep away and let the seal rest.
Seals and other marine mammals can pass on diseases, such as TB or salmonella.
All of the different types of seals have teeth and can inflict a nasty
bite. Seals found in our area are featured as well as the New Zealand
Sea Lion.
© Ohope Beach.info 2003
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