A fur seal pup seen among the rocks at St Clair Beach, in Dunedin, yesterday morning had disappeared by dusk.
Department of Conservation coastal Otago district biodiversity ranger Jim Fyfe said had not been made aware of the seal, but there had been quite a few pups, some dead, along the coastline recently.
Doc had a general policy of minimal intervention with fur seals, as they were not considered threatened.
Photo: Peter McIntosh
The deaths could be due to a number of factors, Mr Fyfe said.
‘‘Whether something has happened to the mothers, or poor food source, or just so many pups that it is a natural loss through the season.’’
He said the seals likely came from Green Island, where about 300 pups had been born; currents brought them to St Kilda and St Clair Beaches.
