Rounding up two sea-lion pups to be weighed are (clockwise,
from left) University of Otago zoology PhD student Amelie
Auge and Department of Conservation rangers Ros Cole
(Southland) and Nathan McNally, in a forest on Otago
Peninsula yesterday. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Sea lion pups frolicking in a pine forest next to an
Otago Peninsula beach had their playtime interrupted yesterday
as a Department of Conservation-led team gave them a quick
checkup.
The checkup was part of research being completed by Doc and
University of Otago zoology PhD student Amelie Auge into the
breeding, feeding and health of the Otago Peninsula
population.
On Monday, six female sea lions were tagged by the team and
it was hoped by the end of the week up to three more could be
tagged.
The team also took the opportunity to weigh the pups born on
the peninsula this season.
Five pups were believed to have been born, but only four had
been found for weighing.
Miss Auge said she was concerned about one pup which had not
come to the beach with its mother, who appeared to have an
injured eye.
"It's all speculation, but she has been here for a day and
a-half calling for it."
By weighing the pups, Doc was able to monitor their growth,
which, in turn, it could relate back to the quality of
nourishment they were getting from their mothers, she said.
"If the milk was not fat enough, the pups wouldn't [weigh
enough]."
Research had shown the sea lions and their pups started to
move more freely to other peninsula beaches between Kuri Bush
and Shag Point about June, she said.
VHF trackers placed on sea lions for the past two years had
shown the sea lions stayed around the Otago coastline for the
whole year.
"They don't go anywhere, so the food must be nice the whole
year round."
It was hoped the trackers placed on sea lions this year would
tell Doc if they returned to the same places on the Otago
coast from year to year.
Information from that would help with the management of
sea-lion habitat along the coast, she said.
rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.