Mum (sea lion)

Last updated

Mum
Species New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri)
SexFemale
Born1980s
Auckland Islands
Years active1992–2010
Known forFirst sea lion to give birth in mainland New Zealand in over 100 years
Offspring11

Mum was a New Zealand sea lion who in 1992 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.

Contents

Biography

Mum was born in the Auckland Islands in the 1980s, was tagged in 1986, and later appeared in Dunedin in 1992. [1] [2] [3] This puzzled researchers as female New Zealand sea lions go to where they were born to give birth. [2] There she gave birth on 1 January 1993 at Taieri Mouth, [3] making her the first sea lion to give birth on the mainland for over 100 years, [4] re-establishing the species on the mainland. [1] Prior to Mum, sea lions were driven away from the mainland due to human settlement and would instead give birth in the subantarctic islands. [5]

In January 2007 Mum gave birth to a pup. Five days later, Mum left the coast for sea, leaving the pup alone. The pup was found in a coma at St Kilda Beach, which prompted the Department of Conservation to try to save it, using a surrogate mother named Lorelie. She later spent three days at sea which was too long for the pup to go without food so it was euthanised. It was buried in Taieri Mouth. When Mum came back, she looked thin and had a cataract in her right eye. [3]

After having 11 pups, Mum disappeared in 2010, aged 24. It is not known when or how she died. [5] [1]

Legacy

All New Zealand sea lions in Otago are descendants of Mum. [4] [6] [1] In July 2015, twenty years after Mum gave birth on the mainland, a life-sized statue of Mum was unveiled on the Esplanade in the Dunedin suburb of St Clair. [5] Designed by Bryn Jones, it was fabricated from fibreglass and polyurethane, [5] for $11,000. [7] On the 30th anniversary of Mum giving birth, a pregnant woman walked 30 kilometres (19 mi) to raise money for The Sealion Trust. [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Looking back at the mother of all sea lions on the Otago coast". 1 News. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 Fox, Rebecca (17 September 2008). "Sexy dummy sea lions to lure stayaway males". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Relief as Mum the sea-lion matriarch returns despite losing her pup". The New Zealand Herald . 22 January 2007. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Biology of New Zealand sea lion". www.doc.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Chamberlain, Rhys (14 July 2015). "Sea lion statue immortalises 'Mum'". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  6. 1 2 Priestley, Laine (9 December 2023). "30km walk a tribute to inspirational Mum". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "Sea lion statue a step closer". Otago Daily Times Online News. 22 September 2014. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
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