New Zealand closes highway for a month to let sea lions nest safely

“You can still visit the area by foot or bicycle, but please give the sea lions lots of space (at least 20m),” continued the publish.

“If you’re walking your dog in the area, please keep it on a lead as sea lions can be hard to spot.”

Locals commenting on the publish applauded the choice, and one even referred to as for the closure to be made everlasting.

“No dogs should be on the beach either,” wrote Gaylene Smith. “We need to protect our beautiful sealife.”

Dogs are recognized to assault sea lions, and Chisholm Links Golf Course, the place the ocean lions have made their house, additionally posted recommendation to canine walkers in a Facebook replace.

The council went on to elucidate that New Zealand sea lions are endangered, and one of many world’s rarest species of sea lion.

There are an estimated 12,000 New Zealand sea lions left, in line with the Department of Conservation. Under native legislation, anybody who kills a sea lion might withstand two years in jail or a high-quality of as much as NZ$250,000 (US$178,000).

In December 2019 a Dunedin man sparked anger after spearing a sea lion whereas diving.

Matt Kraemer posted on Facebook that he and his associate had been diving for paua — a kind of abalone — on Friday after they encountered a “particularly aggressive” sea lion with “lion-sized jaws.”

Kraemer stated he stabbed the ocean lion to guard his associate, however his actions had been roundly condemned.