Disgust at 'abhorrent' New Zealand seal slaughter

smh.com.au: Disgust at 'abhorrent' New Zealand seal slaughter
The slaughter of 23 seals could hit Kaikoura's international reputation as a wildlife destination, tourism operators fear.

Condemnation of the massacre of seals in the north-east of New Zealand's south island, thought to have been carried out over several days with a bat or similar weapon, has come from the government, police, conservation groups, tourists and Kaikoura residents.

The slaughter happened 22 kilometres north of Kaikoura between the Waterfall Stream car park and the Ohau Point seal colony, which attracts thousands of wildlife-loving tourists each year.

Advertisement: Story continues below Department of Conservation (DOC) staff and researchers found the dead seals last Wednesday, but the attack happened days earlier.

"They've walked into a seal colony which has got adult seals – very large wild animals – that would have been defending their young, so they would have been disturbed and they would have been aggressive," DOC South Marlborough area manager Dave Hayes said.

"It defies reasoning. This has been, in my opinion, quite premeditated."

He said the culprits would have carried weapons from their car, possibly late at night.

Some of the pups killed were just days old. Two bulls, many times heavier than a human, were among the dead. Other seals were injured.

Yesterday, squealing seals guarded the bodies on blood-spattered rocks.

Whale Watch chief operating officer Kauahi Ngapora said wildlife was the "backbone" of tourism in Kaikoura.

"It is a shocking and despicable act. I would like to think it will not [harm Kaikoura's reputation], but it is a bit of a high-profile event if you have 23 seals slaughtered," he said.

"Kaikoura has established a name as a leading eco-tourism destination, so headlines like these are not a good look. I am not sure if it will affect our product ...

"Anything like this is devastating for the community ... This isn't the sort of thing we want splashed across television and online."

Fish Kaikoura owner-operator Jonny Willis said the slaughter was "disgusting".

"I think it is a disgusting and inhumane act. In my eyes for someone to do that they would have to be borderline psychotic. It actually makes me sick," he said.

"I hope it doesn't impact on Kaikoura. This is still a beautiful place, and for one or two people to ruin that is not on. We are hoping it was out-of-towners."

English tourist Melody Ambrose visited Kaikoura to kayak with seals, which she did yesterday.

"It's horrible," she said of the slaughter. "You don't expect it to happen in New Zealand, especially not here [Kaikoura], because all the advertising is so big on the seals.

"So you assume the community like their seals and that's where they make a lot of money - from tourism.

"I guess it's worrying because back in England we have lots of problems with youths and things, and then you have this idyllic picture of New Zealand not having the problems we have at home."

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson said she was "beyond appalled" at the "abhorrent" attack.

Kaikoura mayor Winston Gray said it was a shocking act that was "not a good look for Kaikoura or for New Zealand".

Kaikoura acting Sergeant Dean Schroder described the bashings as a random act of stupidity against defenceless wildlife.

The upsetting part, he said, was that wildlife tourism was so important.

"People have different views on seals, but whether they think they're good or bad, they're certainly attracting a lot of people to the district," he said.

Wildlife management expert Bruce Robertson, of Otago University, said most female seals were likely to have a pup at this time of year.

"While 23 seals were killed, the real number of deaths is likely to be greater."

The case has been passed to police, but DOC could also prosecute under the Marine Mammals Act. The penalties are a fine up to $NZ250,000 or up to six months' jail, plus fines for each animal killed.