Dogs have attacked seals and sealions 75 times across the country in the past five years, bringing about only one successful prosecution.<\/p>\n
The Department of Conservation is asking dog owners to look out for wildlife and show responsibility when wildlife appears.<\/p>\n
It said kiwis were also under attack as were little blue penguins and the situation was only getting worse.<\/p>\n
In the southern South Island, from September 9, 2020, to August 12, 2025, there were 16 incidents of dogs attacking, killing or harassing sealions or seals, a statement from Doc said.<\/p>\n
Doc principal investigation officer Hayden Loper said there had been seven deaths of sealions and seals in that time period.<\/p>\n
“Deaths of seals and sealions have occurred in every year, with a noticeable spike in 2024,” Mr Loper said.<\/p>\n
“August is the most common month for attacks on seal and sealions, as it aligns with breeding season.”<\/p>\n
Last week, a man appeared for sentencing in the Nelson District Court on two charges relating to an incident in September last year when his two dogs attacked a fur seal on Kina Beach, near Motueka. He was fined $2000 and his dogs were ordered to be destroyed.<\/p>\n
Doc also successfully prosecuted dog owners for seal attacks in 2020, 2017 and 2015.<\/p>\n
Mr Loper said in the same five-year period, there were 96 incidents of other protected species falling victim to dogs.<\/p>\n
There had been 27 incidents concerning kiwi in the period and 36 attacks on little blue penguins.<\/p>\n
There was a clear upward trend in the number of incidents involving dogs and penguins \u2014 climbing from six in 2021 to more than 20 already in 2025.<\/p>\n
It was difficult to get enough evidence about an attack to prosecute, Mr Loper said.<\/p>\n
“We often only have a dead or injured animal that has injuries consistent with a dog attack, but no evidence to link the injuries to an identifiable dog or owner.<\/p>\n
“We might have a witness account or even photos of an attack but no way to identify the dog or owner.<\/p>\n
“We haven\u2019t been able to establish causes or reasons for the trend, but the stats we compiled clearly show an increase \u2014 hence our appeal to the public to help us.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s the owner\u2019s responsibility to keep their dog under control,” Mr Loper said.<\/p>\n
“It is not just untrained or aggressive dogs that kill protected wildlife \u2014 even small, usually docile pets or well-trained hunting dogs can and do cause serious injury or death when not controlled.”<\/p>\n
Doc said although harassment was the most common type of incident, attacks and injuries had increased in recent years.<\/p>\n
“Every person, business and community has a role in protecting and restoring nature \u2014 particularly our vulnerable protected species.”<\/p>\n
Nineteen kiwi have been killed in the Bay of Islands already this year.<\/p>\n
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