A conservation group is offering a reward for information that leads to a conviction for the shooting of a female sea lion pup in the Catlins.
The New Zealand Sea Lion Trust said it will be fronting a $5000 reward.
“If you have any information about this incident please contact the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust at info@sealiontrust.org.nz or your local police,” the post read.
“All information will be passed on to the appropriate authorities and anonymity will be respected. This reward does not offer immunity from prosecution, and will be paid out after a conviction.”
The trust said it was “disappointed that there are people who would commit such an act, and we feel that the message needs to be given, loud and clear, that this is not acceptable”.
“Not only has an endemic species been deliberately killed with a shotgun, but it has been done in such a way that it will have suffered a slow and painful death.”
It is not known when the sea lion was shot, and how long it had been injured for before it died.
At the time, the Department of Conservation (DOC) Murihiku Operations Manager John McCarroll said the reported shooting is a “disgusting act” and “completely unacceptable”, and added they want to “find out who has done this”.
“Staff received reports of a distressed sea lion in the Catlins Estuary on Monday morning. When a ranger went out to investigate, they found the young female had died.
“The sea lion had serious injuries to its hindquarters which look to have been caused by a firearm, and steel shot believed to be from a shotgun cartridge was recovered from the animal.”
Sea lions are “charismatic and curious animals,” the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust said, “that will sometimes approach people making them particularly vulnerable to anyone that might intend them harm”.
The female sea lion, or pakake, has been in the media before, after it was born 60km up the Clutha River Mata-au this year.
