The body of the town-dwelling fur seal was discovered on the St Leonards train tracks by a member of the public on Monday evening.
Department of Conservation ranger Jim Fyfe confirmed yesterday the seal was Dale.
Mr Fyfe identified the seal as Dale because of his rotten canine teeth, which had been noted when Doc had to move him from various spots around Dunedin in recent months.
Nicknamed Dale for an unknown reason, and affectionately called "Tar-seal" by some because of his penchant for sunbathing in the middle of the road, he made headlines around the world for his behaviour.
In December his antics included holding up hundreds of morning commuters on the Andersons Bay causeway, and squashing a Somerville St couple’s vegetable garden.
Dale fan Belinda Jones said she was sad to hear of his demise.
"I just cannot believe it.
"I’d probably see him two to three times a week walking to work at Portsmouth Dr."
Ms Jones said she enjoyed seeing him each morning because he seemed "incredibly relaxed".
Mr Fyfe said Doc was called to move Dale from near SH88, at St Leonards, on Monday.
"It was the first time we had heard from Dale for a week or two. I was hoping he had left the harbour."
It was likely Dale’s deteriorated teeth were the reason he spent so much time snacking on octopus in the harbour.
Since being killed Dale had been hit by numerous trains and his body was badly damaged, he said.
It was likely he would be buried at a beach.
