23 rare New Zealand fur seals clubbed to death at Kaikoura

23 fur seals have been killed at Ohau. Photo Forest and Bird

December 2010. 23 rare New Zealand fur seals have been found clubbed to death at a popular tourist viewing spot at Ohau Point near Kaikoura. New Zealand fur seals are a threatened species, protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. They were previously almost wiped out by commercial sealing and have now only recovered in a fraction of their former range.

The Ohau Point fur seal colony is one of Kaikoura's leading tourist attractions, where people can safely experience wild animals from the roadside. Tourism contributes heavily to the Kaikoura economy.

Independent conservation organisation Forest & Bird is disgusted and disappointed by the brutal killings.

"The deliberate killing of our wildlife is disgusting and the people of Kaikoura and New Zealand will be outraged," said Forest & Bird Marine Conservation Advocate Kirstie Knowles. "Everyone will condemn these stupid and cruel attacks."

Forest & Bird is supporting Department of Conservation pleas for anyone with information about the cowardly attacks to come forward.