INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
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The "cruel and senseless" killing of six baby seals took place at Scenery Nook
The bodies of six fur seal pups have been found decapitated in a popular bay on New Zealand's South Island.The 11-month-old
seals were discovered on Monday by a tourism operator in Scenery Nook in Christchurch, said the Department of Conservation (DOC).The seals'
heads could not be found and the DOC believe the seals were killed elsewhere before being dumped from a boat
It has called the incident "cruel and senseless"."Due to the disturbing, brutal and violent nature of this crime against defenceless seal
pups, it has been reported to the police," said DOC Mahaanui Operations Manager Andy Thompson in a statement.He said the DOC had ruled out a
shark attack, saying it was "incredibly unlikely sharks would have "bitten the heads off seals but left the bodies untouched."Three seals
have been buried by DOC rangers and the other three bodies will be taken to Massey University for examination
The DOC has appealed for any witnesses to come forward
It is a crime to harass, disturb or harm fur seals under New Zealand's Marine Mammals Protection Act
Mr Thompson said there have been cases before of people injuring or killing seals after becoming frustrated over low fish numbers.
