The arrival of a leopard seal on a Taranaki beach is a timely reminder of the care people need to take around marine mammals coming ashore in warmer weather, says the Department of Conservation (DoC).
Taranaki marine ranger Cameron Hunt says the female leopard seal was first reported to DoC last week, and the 1.8m long mammal has subsequently been spotted at several locations along the province's coast.
"The leopard seal is looking a little skinny but she's otherwise uninjured and healthy. We think she's probably pretty worn out from the winter, and she's come ashore to rest and feed."
Sightings of leopard seals around the North Island are uncommon, and although the Taranaki arrival looks a little worse for wear, Cameron warns the species has a nasty bite.
"Our key message for the public is to keep clear of her – give her at least 20m of space, keep dogs on a leash, and make sure children are at a safe distance and understand she needs to be left alone. Although rare, there are a few records of adult leopard seals attacking humans. If she gets agitated, humans or dogs will come off second best from a close encounter."