The body of an 11-month-old female sea lion pup that was found shot and cut was recovered by the Department of Conservation (Doc) on the Otago Peninsula. The New Zealand sea lion is a native animal and is nationally critical, a status shared by the kakapo and kiwi. Rua was one of only 11 sea lion pups born on the peninsula last summer. The impact of her death on the recovery of the New Zealand sea lion is not to be underestimated. New Zealand Sea Lion Trust trustee Amelia Saxby said the act was terrible and was inflicted upon an iconic, endangered, native species.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 07, 2016 01:52 UTC