A Dunedin business is defending its actions after angry beach-goers accused it of endangering a threatened New Zealand sea lion and its pup as it worked on a city beach yesterday. Contractors were criticised by beach-goers yesterday as they removed sand from Tomahawk Beach amid claims a mother sea lion was separated from her pup. Nash & Ross managing director Steve Ross disagreed with claims his crew scared the sea lion off the beach before work resumed yesterday. Several members of the public described hearing howls of a sea lion over the noise of heavy machinery. The sea lion and pup were believed to be the pair that forced the closure of John Wilson Ocean Dr last month, she said.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 26, 2021 15:34 UTC