The Department of Conservation is urging the public to come forward with information after a critically endangered sea lion/rāpoka was shot on a South Otago beach.
Biodiversity ranger Ros Cole says the male sea lion was reported dead on Tautuku Beach southwest of Balclutha on Sunday.
"A local vet performed a necropsy confirming what we suspected - the sea lion had been shot," she said.
"It's really disheartening someone would do this, sea lions are not only critically endangered but also a taonga species special to Ngāi Tahu. To discover someone has such reckless disregard for our protected species is extremely disappointing."
The sea lion appeared to be otherwise healthy and in good condition, she said.