DOC seeks native seal sightings from public

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is asking the public to report sightings of New Zealand fur seals (kekeno) around the Coromandel and Hauraki Gulf into this summer.

DOC is extending its citizen seal sighting project, originally held between July 1 and November 22 last year, following a high number of dead seals observed in the region during winter 2021.

The project area has also been expanded to cover areas north of Kawhia, on Waikato’s west coast, and Whakatane on the east coast.

The sightings will help DOC scientists to learn more about the species and understand if the previous winter’s mortalities indicated a trend.

DOC marine science adviser Laura Boren says the department received 102 reports of kekeno sightings between July and November.

The sightings were spread across the upper North Island, with 36 in Waikato including the Coromandel, 27 in Auckland, 14 in or around the Hauraki Gulf, and seven each in Northland and Bay of Plenty. Of those, 21 sightings were groups of multiple seals.

Of the sightings, 81 were for live animals and 21 were for dead animals. DOC says this is a positive result because there were significantly fewer dead seals reported than over the previous winter and spring. Back then, more than 50 animals had been found dead.

Boren says DOC welcomes reports of sightings of all seals, alive or dead, from around the upper North Island. All reports, images and information collected will help build an understanding of the kekeno population.

New Zealand’s kekeno population is growing in size and range and Roos’ data will help to create an estimate

of their distribution and key sites. Her fieldwork will also assess locations for potential release sites for rehabbed seals.

The public is asked to report sightings and if possible, photos of the whole animal from several angles, including for deceased animals one looking straight down from above and with something for scale.