By James PasleyAcademics fear for New Zealand's declining sea lion population after discovering a rare breed of sea lion was "rapidly" driven to extinction after contact with humans on the Chatham Islands, in the 17th century. Since 1998 sea lion pup births have declined by 50 per cent, and with only about 10,000 sea lions left, the population is in a serious decline. "Undetected bycatch may still be driving the decline," said associate professor Bruce Roberston, an Otago sea lion biologist. "Something the Government's recently released sea lion threat management plan (TMP) dismisses." The New Zealand sea lion is the only native sea lion, and while once could be found all over the country, their breeding sites are now limited to Auckland Islands, Campbell Island as well as smaller breeding sites on Otago and Stewart Island.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 11, 2016 01:41 UTC