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23 New Zealand fur seal pups and adults were found clubbed to death this morning at Ohau Point, near Kaikoura.
The Department of Conservation has issued a press release with further details of the incident.
The Science Media Centre asked a wildlife management and fur seal genetics expert to provide context.
Dr Bruce Robertson, Senior Lecturer in Zoology, University of Otago comments: "Fur seals numbers are gradually increasing around NZ following their near extirpation due to indiscriminate sealing in the 1800s. Many of the breeding colonies that we have now, have only recently been recolonised. For example, Ohau Point became a breeding colony in 1990 and in 2004 there were an estimated 600 pups born there."
"While 23 seals were killed (as reported), the real number of deaths is likely to be greater.
"This is because females at this time of year are most likely to have a pup and these pups are totally dependent on their mother's milk for survival. So if the mother is killed the pup will die. Also, females mate about a week after giving birth and hence have a developing embryo in the womb (i.e. next year's pup), which also would be killed. The total loss of life is more like: 13 females, 13 dependent pups, 13 developing embryos, plus the 8 pups and the 2 males = 49 fur seals. This does not take into account the future reproductive success of these individuals.
"Given this colony is increasing in size, this loss of life is a small setback. However, large mammal populations cannot sustain the repeated loss of breeding females. Consequently, any external influences can be detrimental."
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Comments
These sickos should simply
These sickos should simply be feed to the sharks.
Throw them into the seal
Throw them into the seal colonies bound, naked and covered in chum.
And that's my conservative recommendation.
This is typical of a society
This is typical of a society intent on killing the next generation. Whether its domestic violence, murder, whatever, the type of so called humans who did this need to be made to face the public and explain to us all exactly what they hoped to achieve by this callous cowardly attack. This is merely a warm up to what these people will do next. If and when they are bought to justice, a monetary fine is not enough. Chances are they won't have the money to pay it and will do 50 hours community service instead, at least that will keep them off the coast line for one day of the week I guess. The system lets us all down, what do we as a so called 'clean green country' propose to do about this??
This time seals, and what of
This time seals, and what of the next time, their target an old lady or a child perhaps. And my taxes undoubtedly support by education or benefits these nomarks.
They are simply thick as s**t
Sounds to me like fishermen
Sounds to me like fishermen that dont like their fish supply being robbed by seals
Peter, There are millions of
Peter, There are millions of fishermen and women who would not stoop to this low level. These are scum, worthless and beyond salvation. If they happen to fish it is no excuse, straight to the sharks.
99.9% of humans wouldn't
99.9% of humans wouldn't stoop to this level, but no other logical reason remains... Aside from some kids getting a few kicks, rather unlikely given the number of seals clubbed to death. I could imagine kids picking on 1 or 2 seals maybe.. I doubt it tho.
Look these are desperate times, people do desperate things. Perhaps a local fisherman is not doing so well at what used to be a lucrative fishing spot, been picking up less fish and more seals in his net, add the money factor i.e the boats mortgaged out and banks need their repayment.
Some fisherman thinks he can take some breeding females out of the picture and hope the fish stocks improve as there are less mouths to feed.
Given the history of man its proven time and time again the most desperate and cowardly acts are commited because of some monetary medium.