Doc called to move sunbathing seal

A fur seal basks in the sun at Portsmouth Dr, the latest of several seal sightings in the area....
A fur seal basks in the sun at Portsmouth Dr, the latest of several seal sightings in the area. Photo: Craig Baxter

The sun and blue skies got the seal of approval from one sun-bathing pup yesterday.

A young male fur seal was spotted catching some rays along Portsmouth Dr by drivers and pedestrians.

Police kept an eye on the pup only a metre away from the road, while they waited for the Department of Conservation to move him.

Doc worker Jim Fyfe said "for the last week we have been having them pop up here and there''.

It was unusual to have them this far from the coast but as it was breeding season the older dominant males were marking their territory, forcing the young boys out, Mr Fyfe said

With a shake of a box of nails, Mr Fyfe had scared the seal back off the road, on to the grass away from traffic.

Mr Fyfe said that he was not inclined to scare him back into the water as he would most likely pop up again somewhere new.

The fur seal was left to relax in peace away from danger. 

- Fleur Mealing

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