The Department of Conservation has defended its handling of a sick seal on a Dunedin beach.
Ocean View resident Richard Kay said he contacted the department after finding the "very sick" fur seal on Ocean View beach on New Year's Day.
"There were lots of people gathering around the seal because we couldn't initially tell if it was alive."
Mr Kay said he contacted the department's sick, injured, or dead animal emergency hotline, leaving his name and the details of the whereabouts of the seal with the call centre operator.
The next day he discovered the seal in the same position and again contacted the hotline expressing his concern over the mammal, which was covered in blood and excrement, and "again we were told that someone would be dispatched to investigate".
The following day, the seal was still lying on the beach not far from the car park, and Mr Kay rang Doc again and offered to put the animal down himself.
Later that night, he checked on the seal and discovered it had been put down and buried.
Doc biodiversity assets programme manager David Agnew said the seal in question was an old male fur seal, which appeared to be dying of natural causes.
Where fur seals were concerned, the department's policy was for minimal intervention, as they were not a threatened species.
"Where possible, we will let nature take its course.
"If the public or the animal is at risk, we would consider moving it.
"If it is in obvious pain with no chance of survival, we would consider euthanising, especially if [it is] in a very public location."
Mr Agnew said the department received three calls about the seal, and a Doc officer visited the area twice.
"It was examined by an experienced staff member.
"It was difficult to determine if the animal was in pain, but it did appear to be distressed."
Mr Agnew confirmed the department put down the seal, and reminded the public that under the Marine Mammal Protection it is illegal for the public to take the law into their own hands.
On Sunday, Mr Agnew was called to St Clair Esplanade following reports a seal had become a road hazard.
Using a borrowed broom and umbrella, Mr Agnew guided the old male fur seal back into the water to the applause of onlookers.
