Elephant seal spotted 1000km from home

Tuesday, 22 January 2019

They usually grace sub-antarctic waters, but an elephant seal has been spotted more than 1000 kilometres from home hanging out on a Marlborough beach.

A female elephant seal has been seen lazing on Rarangi beach, near Blenheim.

The southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina is the largest seal species in the world and the Marlborough visitor has provided a spectacle for photographers, locals and tourists.

While females don't have the impressive inflatable proboscis snout their male counterparts boast, she still has had locals in awe.

* Dog stung by stingray saved by vet on holiday

* Wayfaring seal travels 8km up river to quiet lagoon**

Adult male elephant seals can reach 5 metres in length and weigh up to 3600 kg. Adult females can reach 3 metres and weigh 900 kg.

The seal at Rarangi, who is not quite fully grown, has moulting fur.

Department of Conservation rangers have put out signs warning people to keep a safe distance.

Rarangi resident and former fisheries officer Vicki Baker has never seen an elephant seal in 16 years living at Rarangi.

The claws are used for scratching themselves, says former fisheries officer Vicki Baker.

Baker first spotted the seal last Wednesday and saw it over the following two days.

'Elephant seals are normally in the Southern Ocean … they generally don't come this far north.'

They are often found in the Auckland islands, 465 km south of the South Island, Baker said.

'But on occasion they have popped up in some strange places on the New Zealand coastline. But it's rare, it is a rare thing.'

Baker was a fisheries officer for 14 years.

In the late 80s, she said she compiled the training manual on marine mammal rescue including whales, dolphins and seals and spent a year travelling around New Zealand training DOC staff.

'When they moult, it's not uncommon for them to come ashore for a number of days. They won't eat during that time, they'll just sit around.'

She has observed the seal roll on it's back, every now and again open it's mouth and look at people, but it wasn't doing anything unusual, she said.

Any wild animal, including elephant seals, NZ fur seals and Leopard seals, had the potential to be dangerous, she said.

'They look very docile but if you get close to them, they'll see you as a threat and defend themselves.

Elephant seals could move 'surprisingly quickly', she said.

An elephant seal has been spotted at Rarangi beach in Marlborough.

'They'll surprise you at how fast they can move and how fast they can swing around on their own body length and have a bite at something that's annoying them.'

Rarangi resident and hobby photographer Lesley Reeves was shooting the seal with a long zoom lens when it made a quick movement.

'It was just lying there, then every now and again it would pop it's head up.

'It popped up and opened it's mouth … it gave me a bit of a wee surprise.'

She had seen people coming and going, observing the seal and taking photos, Reeves said.

Adult male elephant seals can reach 5 metres in length and weigh up to 3,600 kg. Females can reach 3 metres and weigh 900 kg.

'People seemed to be respectful of the seal which is good. I didn't see anyone getting too close.'

DOC spokesperson Trish Grant said elephant seals occasionally visited New Zealand and seen on the Marlborough coast.

'Anyone seeing an elephant seal on the coast is asked to give it space and leave it be.'

DOC Advice:

Keep dogs on a leash, under control and at least 20 metres away from the elephant seal.

Keep small children at a safe distance and under control.

Avoid getting closer than 20 metres.

Do not get between the seal and the sea.

Do not touch or feed the seal.

If taking a photo of seals and other wildlife, people should use the zoom rather than move in close.