Click photo to enlarge
Department of Conservation marine ranger Jim Fyfe admires
the specimen of a 3-metre-long leopard seal yesterday.
Photo by Peter McIntosh.
From the depths of the Antarctic to the walk-in freezer
at Otago Museum, it has been quite a journey for a 3m-long
leopard seal.
The adult female was reported to be in poor health on
Waikouaiti beach late last week and is believed to have died
on Friday from natural causes.
It took eight people to lift the leopard seal, estimated to
weigh more than 200kg, on to a trailer, and it was then taken
to to the museum for storage yesterday.
Department of Conservation marine ranger Jim Fyfe said
leopard seals were normally found around the Antarctic, and
the Otago coast was near the edge of their range.
Since 1999, there had been 63 recorded sightings of leopard
seals along the Otago coast, and 23 of those were recorded in
the past year.
So far this year, they had been seen at Oamaru, Moeraki,
Aramoana, Brighton and Company Bay, and Doc advised the
public to keep their distance.
Mr Fyfe said it was unclear why numbers of leopard seals were
increasing, with the topic requiring further study.
The majority of sightings along the Otago coast were of
juvenile leopard seals, and it was "highly unusual" to find
one of this size.
The specimen would provide an opportunity to find out more
about the mammal, he said.
"She is a great specimen, in a great condition."
Otago Museum natural science research and interpretation
co-ordinator Lucy Rowe said the museum planned to meet other
parties to determine the animal's future, with taxidermy a
possible option.
hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz
