Four sea lion pups have been found on Otago Peninsula so far this breeding season, and the Department of Conservation expects more to reveal themselves in coming weeks.
The endangered New Zealand sea lion's main population is in the sub-Antarctic islands and they only began breeding on Otago's coast in the mid-1990s.
They breed over the summer months, hiding away in dense vegetation in remote places along the coast, only revealing themselves after their pups begin to move around.
Doc marine ranger Jim Fyfe said there were about 10 breeding females on the coast and it was expected up to six would produce pups this summer.
Last summer four pups were born on Otago's coast, and the year before, six.
As the pups grew older, their mothers generally congregated together creating a "nursery" type situation while they went out to sea to gather food for their offspring, Mr Fyfe said.
The pups were good news for the mammal, which had shown a significant decline in pup numbers in the sub-Antarctic islands last breeding season.
While researchers were still down in the islands assessing this year's season, indications were that numbers had improved on last season but were not as high as other seasons, he said.
The Otago population, which was in good health compared with their Auckland Island counterparts, gave the species more security.
Pups discovered by Doc were on the more remote beaches of Otago Peninsula and none had yet moved on to any public beaches, he said.
If people did see a pup, they should give them plenty of room, not move them and call Doc so they could assess if they needed additional protection such as signs to warn the public of their presence.
It was also important dog owners were vigilant and kept their pets on a leash if there were sea lions on the beach.
