Photo: Department of ConservationTui the sea lion has given birth to the first pup of the Otago/New Zealand breeding season. The Department of Conservation said in a statement today the six-year-old sea lion had the pup (pakake) on Christmas Day, beginning what is hoped to be another successful breeding season for the nationally endangered species. Over the festive season Doc staff, mana whenua, and New Zealand Sea Lion Trust volunteers would be keeping an eye on things, he said. Sea lion breeding season• Pakake are one of the world’s rarest sea lion species and found only in New Zealand. • In Otago, pups are born from late December through to mid-January.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 29, 2025 10:29 UTC