REPORT: OSCAR FRANCIS/PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY
Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger Jim Fyfe said dead fur seal pups washing up on beaches was not unusual at this time of year as the weather got colder.
The pup was likely to be about a year old. Fur seals were quite common and if people came across dead ones they should inform Doc by sending a photo so the finds could be prioritised, as not all would be investigated.
Sea lions were more endangered but appeared more common because they enjoyed the same sandy beaches as people.
If a dead one was found, Doc would perform a necropsy.
People using Dunedin beaches should keep dogs on leads and avoid handling dead seals as they could carry harmful diseases such as salmonella or tuberculosis, Mr Fyfe said.
