Regarding the inhumane bashing of the innocent baby fur seal in west Auckland it is clear that a concerning issue of ill treatment towards endemic species must be stopped.

It is hard to see how or why any rational person would even consider inflicting such unnecessary suffering on any animal, let alone a species which has suffered so much in history. We call for the fullest investigation into this matter and demand that the perpetrator(s) of this heinous act suffer the full unsympathetic extent of the law.

We are pleased that the police have reprimanded the apparent culprits. Under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 there are penalties of up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to $250,000 for killing or harming fur seals or other marine mammal plus a further fine of up to $10,000 for every marine mammal the offence was committed against. This is clearly not enough to deter cruel behaviour.

This is not the first attack on endemic species in New Zealand this summer after the slaughter of 23 New Zealand Fur Seals which took place at Ohau Point, 22km North of Kaikoura in early December 2010. The culprit(s) of that particular henious act are still yet to be brought to justice. We continue to appeal to anyone with information on who the murderers were to contact PETA immediately

ENDS

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