I have noticed with great concern the New Zealand sea lion population is collapsing in the Sub Antarctic. An article in Otago Daily Times Monday 10 January said the numbers of females on Campbell island had declined from 400 to 85 and I am well aware that the entire population has dropped from 15000 in 1997 to 9000 today. This reminds me horribly of the Yangtze River Dolphin which died out in 2006. Much was made of the threat of extinction facing the baiji but help arrived too late. and the same thing is happening here. We went to a beach up Otago penisula recently and had fun watching a young male and female play fighting and thought how sad it would be if they were to die out. Although it is controversial I reckon the only thing that could save them is rescuing orphaned pups and caring for them at Auckland zoo. I know there is a policy banning them from captivity but with the squid fishery and hoons attacking wildlife on a shockingly regular basis (Kaikoura, Southland) it should be considered. Auckland zoo has Californian sea lions and fur seals and had to change the rules about their SubAntarctic fur seal. Auckland zoo's Californian sea lions are not breeding so when they die of old age I wonder who will replace them? especially as their current pool cost millions? The only other place in New Zealand that had marine mammals was Napiers Marineland and as far as I know it has closed.
Forest & Bird » Other
sea lion decline
(2 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Another thing I have noticed with concern is increasing numbers of leopard seals on our beaches. While I know they are native animals. They are a growing problem. They eat endangered yellow eyed penguins and attack people viciously. Scientists have been attacked and even killed by them in Antarctica. Leopard seals also are consuming so much krill in Antarctica that the baleen whales are starving. I read in an IUCN report that leopard seals and crabeater seals are eating a staggering 160 million tonnes of krill each year. The global human commercial catch by comparison is a 'tiny' 80 million tonnes. Perhaps a cull of both these species should be considered by the CCAS or CCAMLR? I know as animals it isn't their fault this has happened but the whales are in crisis all over the world with global warming and Japanese whaling and this krill stealing may be the final nail in the coffin for the majestic blue whale reduced to less than one percent of its former abundance.
Posted 1 year ago #
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