Sea lions in the area were "cheeky little buggers" but did not bother anyone, Kaik Fishing Village residents told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
The three 18-month-old male sea lions were found shot near the river mouth on Saturday.
Two were dead and the third so badly injured it had to be put down.
The ODT has chosen not to run images of the dead sea lions supplied by the Department of Conservation, but they show the animals with multiple injuries.
Doc and police are investigating the deaths, which have been described by authorities as unfathomable and disturbing.
Residents at the fishing village yesterday added their voices to the mounting horror over the incident.
Tammy Fraser said it was "just appalling".
She often encountered sea lions while out fishing.
"They’re friendly. They don’t do anyone any harm."
Sea lions being in the area was good news as it meant there were fish in the river mouth, she said.
Murray Smith said he had lived in the village for about 20 years and sea lion sightings had become more frequent over the years.
"They’ve got every right to be there."
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, called the incident "disgusting".
He could not understand why someone would harm such "beautiful animals".
"They’re awesome to watch. I love watching them going up and down the water."
If the culprit turned out to be a resident it would be a "betrayal".
"Most people around here appreciate the wildlife.
"Everyone’s pretty upset about it."
Another resident, who also wished to remain anonymous, said while the sea lions were "cheeky little buggers" they did not bother anyone.
At least six sea lions have been killed - five shot and one stabbed - by people in the South in the past year.
A $50,000 reward to find those responsible for the deaths of three sea lions in the Catlins has yet to unearth the culprits.
Public outrage at the killings of two of them, a pup and two weeks later its mother, known as Jade, led to the award growing from $5000 to $50,000, funded by groups and private individuals.
