Risk of missed evidence on seal’s death – expert
The inaction of Invercargill’s Department of Conservation staff has resulted in scientific and perhaps criminal evidence being missed after the shooting death of a leopard seal, a researcher of the mammals claims.
A protected juvenile leopard seal was found dead near Invercargill in July, with DOC saying initial investigations revealed the mammal was shot, most likely with a small-calibre rifle.
Leopard seals are protected under the Marine Mammals Protection Act and offences against them carry significant penalties.
Dr Krista van der Linde, a cofounder of Leopardseals.org and a researcher of the mammals, said she was very disappointed that Invercargill’s DOC staff did not notify her organisation when the seal was found dead in July.
DOC Southland operations manager John McCarroll said the department’s legal obligation was to its Treaty partner first and foremost, and it had no such obligation with Leopardseals.org.
Van der Linde’s organisation has a permit, granted by DOC, to perform necropsies on dead leopard seals that reveal vital scientific information. Necropsies also had the potential to identify people responsible for the deaths, as had happened previously when two bullet types were found in one mammal, she said.
Given that little was known about leopard seals, the scientific data gleaned from the necropsies was important to help protect the mammals in future, she said.
However, she said Invercargill’s DOC staff had consistently failed to alert her organisation when leopard seals washed ashore in the area, whereas DOC staff in other regions did so.
McCarroll, when saying DOC’s legal obligation was to its Treaty partner, also said it worked with Leopardseals.org, within the bounds of permit conditions and DOC’s obligations to mana whenua.
‘‘For example, Leopardseals. org currently have āleopard seal from Southland’s Oreti Beach awaiting necropsy, and their results will be provided to DOC as per their research permit requirements,’’ he said.
Necropsies were used to determine cause of death, if needed, McCarroll said.
‘‘In the case of the leopard seal recently deceased at the O¯ reti River mouth ... DOC’s investigation determined it was shot dead, likely with a low-calibre rifle. A compliance investigation has been opened and the leopard seal, which was buried after DOC’s investigations, can still be accessed for further investigative work should new information come to light.’’
DOC had a contract in place with Wildbase at Massey University to undertake necropsies of marine mammals for specific situations.
‘‘While Leopardseal.org does hold permits to investigate animals for research purposes, they are not trained wildlife pathologists,’’ McCarroll said.
‘‘DOC has been in touch with Leopardseal.org to find out what information they are seeking.
‘‘We are happy to share images and information with them; however, we are not in consultation with them as part of our investigations.’’