Dunedin sea lion population increases; 12 pups confirmed

DUNEDIN’S sea lion population is on the rise. As the breeding season ends, 12 pups have been confirmed on the Eastern Otago coast, but the final number will not be known for months.

Department of Conservation biodiversity manager Jim Fyfe said he expected about 16.

‘‘Because we’ve got so few females, their strategy is to hide away from the males.’’

They do this in many ways, including hiding behind fur seal colonies to mask their smell.

The final number would be roughly the same as last year’s 15, but next year up to 20 were expected — well up on eight five years ago.

All pups would be expected to have been born by now, he said.

‘‘It is a little bit hard to determine, because you’re not finding pups when they’re born if they’re well hidden.’’

Birthing spots spanned from Warrington to Smaills Beach, but between Aramoana and Long Beach was the most popular area.

Recently, 4yearold Brionie, recognisable by the scar on her chest, was spotted at St Clair, despite giving birth further north.

The Eastern Otago population was restarted by one sea lion known as ‘‘Mum’’, and by the early 2000s there were three breeding females.

There was an ‘‘unexpected plateau’’ from 2008 to 2012, but the population had risen steadily since, Mr Fyfe said.

The increase was not a major problem for the declining yelloweyed penguins, Mr Fyfe said.

‘‘They will eat the odd penguin, but they’re not a core part of their diet.’’