Jade (sea lion)

Last updated

Jade
Species New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri)
SexFemale
Born2016
Kaka Point, Otago
Died2024

Jade (2016-2024) was a New Zealand sea lion. She gathered media attention in February 2024 after swimming 60 kilometres up the Clutha River, which was not an expected behaviour for a sea lion. In September 2024 she and her pup were shot and killed.

Contents

Life

Jade was born under a crib in 2016 at Kaka Point, Otago, [1] [2] [3] the first pup of a sea lion named Matariki. [4] She was later given the name "Jade," which was the name of the crib owners' late son. In January 2024, it was discovered that she had swum 60 kilometres up the Clutha River while pregnant, to a property near Tuapeka. While it is known that pregnant female sea lions tend to travel inland to escape males, ranger Jim Fyfe described it as "unexpected" and "exciting" to see her travel this far. Satellite tracking done in 2019 and 2022 did not find any sea lions in the Clutha River. Jade gave birth in that spot. The pup had a weight of 15 kilograms, [1] [2] [3] and was female. [5]

In September 2024 the pup was discovered in distress after being shot at least 25 times with a shotgun, and soon died. [6] [7] The Department of Conservation (DOC) described it as "atrocious". It took until 2006 for sea lions to begin breeding again in the Catlins, with 45 pups being born there by 2024 (including some who died). [6] Sea lions are a protected species under the Wildlife Act 1953, with the maximum punishment for killing one being a $250,000 fine and/or a two-year prison sentence. [5] DOC set up a hotline to gather information about its death, [6] and the Sea Lion Trust offered a $5,000 reward for anyone who could provide information that would lead to prosecution. [8] [9]

A few weeks later in October, Jade's decomposing body had been discovered dead about 100 metres away from where her pup had been discovered, after being shot with a shotgun. About 50 shot gun pellets had been discovered in her, and they will be forensically compared to the pellets discovered in the pup. It is believed that her body had washed up to that spot after the October floods. [10] [11] There are only 12 breeding females in the area. [12] The Sea Lion Trust increased its reward to $6,000, [9] and about a week later, increased it again to $11,000. [13] In December officials determined that Jade had not been shot, but did not rule out being stabbed or another act of violence. [14]

Some people were uncomfortable being near the sea lions when they were alive. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea lion</span> Subfamily of aquatic mammals

Sea lions are pinnipeds characterized by external ear flaps, long foreflippers, the ability to walk on all fours, short and thick hair, and a big chest and belly. Together with the fur seals, they make up the family Otariidae, eared seals. The sea lions have six extant and one extinct species in five genera. Their range extends from the subarctic to tropical waters of the global ocean in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with the notable exception of the northern Atlantic Ocean. They have an average lifespan of 20–30 years. A male California sea lion weighs on average about 300 kg (660 lb) and is about 2.4 m (8 ft) long, while the female sea lion weighs 100 kg (220 lb) and is 1.8 m (6 ft) long. The largest sea lions are Steller's sea lions, which can weigh 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) and grow to a length of 3.0 m (10 ft). Sea lions consume large quantities of food at a time and are known to eat about 5–8% of their body weight at a single feeding. Sea lions can move around 16 knots in water and at their fastest they can reach a speed of about 30 knots. Three species, the Australian sea lion, the Galápagos sea lion and the New Zealand sea lion, are listed as endangered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otago</span> Region of New Zealand

Otago is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately 32,000 square kilometres (12,000 sq mi), making it the country's second largest local government region. Its population was 257,200 in June 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balclutha, New Zealand</span> Town in Otago, New Zealand

Balclutha is a town in South Otago, lying towards the end of the Clutha River, on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is about halfway between Dunedin and Gore on the Main South Line railway, State Highway 1 and the Southern Scenic Route. Balclutha has a population of 4,430, and is the largest town in South Otago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandra, New Zealand</span> Town in Otago, New Zealand

Alexandra is a town in the Central Otago district of the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the banks of the Clutha River, on State Highway 8, 188 kilometres (117 mi) by road from Dunedin and 33 kilometres (21 mi) south of Cromwell. The nearest towns to Alexandra via state highway 8 are Clyde seven kilometres to the northwest and Roxburgh forty kilometres to the south. State highway 85 also connects Alexandra to Omakau, Lauder, Oturehua, Ranfurly and on to Palmerston on the East Otago coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clutha River</span> River in the South Island of New Zealand

The Clutha River is the second longest river in New Zealand and the longest in the South Island. It flows south-southeast 338 kilometres (210 mi) through Central and South Otago from Lake Wānaka in the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean, 75 kilometres (47 mi) south west of Dunedin. Gold is in abundance in the Clutha River and its surrounding areas. It is the highest volume river in New Zealand, and has a discharging mean flow of 614 cubic metres per second (21,700 cu ft/s).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Wānaka</span> Lake in Otago, New Zealand

Lake Wānaka is New Zealand's fourth-largest lake and the seat of the town of Wānaka in the Otago region. The lake is 278 meters above sea level, covers 192 km2 (74 sq mi), and is more than 300 m (980 ft) deep.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cromwell, New Zealand</span> Town in Otago, New Zealand

Cromwell is a town in Central Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. Cromwell is located on the shores of Lake Dunstan where the Kawarau river joins Lake Dunstan. Cromwell was established during the Otago gold rush and is now more known as one of the sub regions of the Central Otago wine region. In 2018, the town of Cromwell was home to a population of 5610 people.

Kaitangata is a town near the coast of South Otago, New Zealand, on the left bank of the Matau Branch of the Clutha River ten kilometres south east of Balclutha. The town is known to its residents as Kai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand sea lion</span> Species of carnivore

The New Zealand sea lion, once known as Hooker's sea lion, and as pakake or whakahao (male) and kake (female) in Māori, is a species of sea lion that is endemic to New Zealand and primarily breeds on New Zealand's subantarctic Auckland and Campbell islands, and have in recent years been slowly breeding and recolonising around the coast of New Zealand's South and Stewart islands. The New Zealand sea lion numbers around 12,000 and is one of the world's rarest sea lion species. They are the only species of the genus Phocarctos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Catlins</span> Coastal region of the South Island of New Zealand

The Catlins comprise an area in the southeastern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. The area lies between Balclutha and Invercargill, straddling the boundary between the Otago and Southland regions. It includes the South Island's southernmost point, Slope Point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clutha District</span> Territorial authority district in Otago, New Zealand

Clutha District is a local government district of southern New Zealand, with its headquarters in the Otago town of Balclutha. Clutha District has a land area of 6,334.47 km2 (2,445.75 sq mi) and an estimated population of 19,300 as of June 2024. Clutha District occupies the majority of the geographical area known as South Otago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nugget Point</span> Steep landform in Otago, New Zealand

Nugget Point is a coastal landform on the Otago coast in New Zealand. Located at the northern end of the Catlins coast, along the road from Kaka Point, this steep headland has a lighthouse at its tip, surrounded by rocky islets. The point is home to many seabirds, including penguins, gannets and royal spoonbills, and a large breeding colony of fur seals. Roaring Bay, on the south coast of the tip of Nugget Point, is home to a small colony of yellow-eyed penguins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tautuku Peninsula</span> Peninsula in Otago, New Zealand

Tautuku Peninsula is a rocky headland in the Catlins on the south coast of Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 25 km (15 mi) east of Waikawa, at the western end of Tautuku Bay.

Papatowai is a small settlement in the Catlins ward of the Clutha District of the southeastern South Island of New Zealand. The settlement is situated half-way between the cities of Dunedin and Invercargill, on the Pacific coast close to the mouth of the Tahakopa River. There is a permanent population of around 40 people but with most of the houses in the town being holiday homes the population rises dramatically during the holiday seasons, particularly around New Year's Day and Easter.

Bryan Alexander Cadogan is a New Zealand politician who has served as the mayor of Clutha since 2010. A retailer and former sheep shearer, he was first elected as a Clutha District Councillor in 1998. His younger brother, Tim Cadogan, was the mayor of Central Otago between 2016 and 2024.

William Stuart "Nobby" Clark is a New Zealand politician, serving as the Mayor of Invercargill since 2022. He has also served on the Invercargill City Council since 2019 and as deputy mayor since 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mum (sea lion)</span> Individual New Zealand sea lion

Mum was a New Zealand sea lion who in 1993 in Otago became the first sea lion to give birth in mainland New Zealand for over 100 years. All sea lions in Otago are descended from Mum. After having 11 pups, she disappeared in 2010, aged 24. It is not known when or how she died.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owha</span> Leopard seal (born before 2012)

Owha is a leopard seal that has been seen throughout the northern North Island of New Zealand, such as in Auckland's Waitematā Harbour, where she likes to sleep on pontoons. Being known for what the news media website Stuff has described as "highly inquisitive behaviour", Owha sometimes breaks fenders and pops inflatable dinghies. The long form of her name, He owha nā ōku tūpuna, is Māori for "treasured gift from our ancestors". The name was given to her in 2016 by local hapū Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei. She was last seen in 2022.

In early October 2024, the Otago region of New Zealand's South Island experienced heavy rainfall and significant flooding and landslides. The weather event affected coastal areas in Otago including North Otago, Dunedin, and the Clutha District, which received an estimated two-months worth of rainfall between 2 and 4 October. On 3 October, a state of emergency was declared in Dunedin, with residents in some low-lying suburbs being told to evacuate. By 4 October, the Clutha District had also declared a state of emergency. By 6 October, the state of emergency in Dunedin and Clutha had been lifted due to improving weather conditions and floodwaters subsiding.

References

  1. 1 2 "Pregnant sea lion swims 60km inland to give birth up Clutha River". Newshub . 7 February 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Sea lion swims 60km inland to give birth". 1News . 7 February 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Sea lion pup born on riverbank after mum's 60km swim from coast". RNZ . 7 February 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  4. ↑ "Sea lion and pup killed in hit-and-run". Otago Daily Times . 15 February 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Sea lion shooting 'appalling', DOC says". Stuff . 25 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Necropsy confirms sea lion killed with shotgun". Department of Conservation . 3 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Baby sea lion shot and left to die - DOC appealing for information". RNZ . 25 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  8. ↑ "Sea Lion Trust offers $5k reward over baby's shooting". RNZ . 29 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Mum of sea lion pup who was killed now also found dead". Otago Daily Times . 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "Second sea lion shot and left to die in Catlins". RNZ . 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  11. ↑ "Second sea lion shot dead in the Catlins". 1News . 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  12. ↑ "DOC appalled to find second shot sea lion in Catlins". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  13. ↑ "Sea lion reward rises". Otago Daily Times . 16 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  14. ↑ "Shooting ruled out for euthanised sea lion". Otago Daily Times . 16 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
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