Frequent visitor seals the deal
A seal, believed to be a frequent visitor of the Karamū Stream, has again delighted Havelock North residents.
The large fur seal (kekeno) was spotted floating nonchalantly on its back between the Crosses Road and Havelock Road bridges on Monday afternoon.
Laura Boren, Science Advisor for the Department of Conservation (DOC) said at this time of year, they are not bound to breeding colonies and can explore widely – including a long way up rivers.
"Kekeno are most often found on rocky shores but are curious and exploratory by nature and can be seen all around the coast in unusual places. They occasionally travel up rivers as far as 15 km inland."
Seals are well adapted to life in the sea and along the rocky shoreline and have a thick layer of fur and blubber to keep them comfortable in this environment, she said.
"They are equally at home in the water as on land and so regularly relax in the water. When you see them resting in the water with one flipper in the air this is a way they regulate their temperature.
"They are robust animals, can fend for themselves and will find their own way back to sea when they are ready."
Anecdotally, they are aware of more seals being seen than in previous years.
DOC has a hands-off approach with seals and will only intervene if the animal is in obvious danger such as getting too close to a road, tangled in debris, being harassed at a public beach or is seriously injured.
Sneezing, coughing and crying are all normal seal behaviours. Pups may be left alone for days at a time while their mother forages at sea.
DOC’s advice is to never touch or handle a seal as they can be very aggressive if threatened. It is also a breach of the Marine Mammals Protection Act. People should keep a distance of at least 20 metres from kekeno, if possible, and not get between the seal and the sea.
“If you are walking your dog in areas where seals regularly haul out, or see a seal on your beach, put your dog on a lead until you are away from the seal,” Boren says.
If you see a seal that is severely injured, being harassed, or in obvious danger, call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
