PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYA large elephant seal basks in the sun at Tomahawk Beach yesterday. Elephant seals are the largest species of seal in the world and are occasional visitors to Dunedin shores when they swim up from subantarctic waters. Adult males can weigh on average 3600kg and the females are usually about 900kg, the Department of Conservation said. The New Zealand population is concentrated on the Antipodes Islands and on Campbell Island.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 03, 2026 15:38 UTC