Bubbly seal calls in to frolic, say hello
The first time Napier woman Halie Mcale saw a seal at close range was at Marineland, 16 years ago. That was also the last time she saw one up close. So arriving at the Iron Pot wharf to help her partner work on their trawler nets yesterday morning provided a cute and colourful maritime treat.
The first time Napier woman Halie Mcale saw a seal at close range was at Marineland, 16 years ago.
That was also the last time she saw one up close.
So arriving at the Iron Pot wharf to help her partner work on their trawler nets on Wednesday morning provided a cute and colourful maritime treat.
A frisky little seal had decided to take time out in the calm waters of the Iron Pot and was happy to play with a fish she threw to it.
“He was really happy and looked pretty healthy — it was really neat to see it so close,” she said, adding that while she had seen whales and dolphins in their natural habitat, it was the first time she had spotted a seal. And for it to be so close was the clincher.
To her delight when she called out “come here, seal”, the little visitor swam closer and was clearly taking in his surroundings.
But she left it at that and said she did not try to touch it, despite it coming so near.
And that is the advice the Department of Conservation gives out, especially at this time of the year when the seals tend to head for shoreline waters and even onto land.
DOC East Coast operations manager John Lucas said while it was not unusual to see seals at this time of the year, they were more commonly spotted from August to November — the time when newly-weaned fur seal pups and juveniles headed to shore to rest up.
The Iron Pot arrival appeared perfectly happy to stay in the waters rather than scramble ashore on nearby rocks.
Winter was effectively a time for rest and recuperation.
Spotting them on beaches or even wandering inland would occur, and DOC took a hands-off approach — leaving them to make their way on their own, unless there were signs they had been injured or tangled in marine debris.
DOC has an emergency hotline 0800 362 468 for people to call if they came upon a seal in serious distress — but the latest visitor to the popular Ahuriri seafront was clearly happy, content and delighted to have a fish to play with.
Macale said several people had stopped along the wharfside to watch the mid-winter swimmer frolicking.
“[It’s] just neat to see.”