A sea lion mother accustomed to loss had a new beginning as it gave birth to a pup at Warrington at the weekend.
Raukura Tutahione, of Dunedin, said she was camping at the settlement with her family when she saw Joy the sea lion and her newborn in the trees shortly after the birth on Sunday morning.
''When I was sitting here and watching them a fantail came up and perched itself on that tree there and spread its tail out.
''When it flew over and opened its tail to me I just thought 'that's the sign of a new beginning'.''
The birds had significance to Maori so she named the pup Tohu, meaning ''a sign'', she said.
Ms Tutahione had seen Joy before on her visits to Warrington, but this encounter was special, she said.
''We've all been looking out for her and protecting her.''
It is Joy's second surviving pup, after Rua was found dead with stab wounds in November 2016 and another of her pups died from disease.
Hope, born in December 2016, is her only other surviving offspring.
In past weeks Warrington Surf Life Saving Club members have been regularly checking on Joy and educating campers about her need for space.
Club and New Zealand Sea Lion Trust member Pru Casey said it was the second pup this season. About 17 more were expected around Otago.
''We've been getting the local campers to help put up signs. Sea lions hate banging on the ground, horses hooves, so we've been letting them know about that.''
Joy would swim off soon to find food at sea and leave the pup alone for a couple of nights.
A group of people would camp around the pup at that point to protect it from dogs and other disturbances.
Joy came to the area about a month earlier to find a site, and then went to St Kilda, to throw sea lion males off the scent, she said.
''They want to get away from the bulls, because they try to mate with them after birth, which squashes the babies.''
Joy would probably take the pup to Long Beach eventually, where there were other mothers to share caring duties.
