Reward offers pour in to find seal killers

DoC's Phil Bradfield. Photo / DoC

Rewards of more than $14,000 are on offer for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the clubbing death of 23 fur seals near Kaikoura.

The bodies of the slaughtered seals, including some newborn pups, were found late last week at the Ohau Point seal colony north of Kaikoura, in south Marlborough.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has put up an $11,500 reward for information leading to the conviction of "the low-life coward capable of extreme danger" who they say is also a potential danger to humans.

The lobby group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is offering up to $2500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

The Department of Conservation (DoC) has also received calls from people offering money for a reward, the amount of which will be announced over the next few days.

DoC South Marlborough area manager Dave Hayes said "concerned individuals with a desire to see justice done" had phoned in with offers ranging from $1000 to $10,000.

Public support given to DoC over the last two days was "heartening", Mr Hayes said, who was aware of other organisations offering rewards, and he said it was good of them to take action.

A plea for information from DoC and the police had so far failed to turn up anything concrete, though calls were coming in to police and DoC offices nationwide.

"We are still getting information and following up leads with the police," he said.

Information was mainly from people who had visited the colony over the past two weeks or people who had heard "secondhand" information about the attacks.

Penalties for killing or harming fur seals or other marine mammals include up to six months' jail or fines of up to $250,000.

In July, Hayden John Ingram, 17, of Kaikoura was fined $500 and sentenced to 200 hours' community work for shooting a seal with a paintball gun, bashing it with a metal bar and running over a seal pup, killing both.

- NZPA