
Photo: Hamish MacLean
The moulting 2m female was last spotted in Oamaru Harbour at the North Otago Yacht and Powerboat Club's boat ramp on August 24. At that time ''both eyes seemed glued shut'' as if the animal were suffering from conjunctivitis, LeopardSeals.org research assistant Giverny Forbes, of Dunedin, said.
Yesterday, the naturally uncommon pinniped reappeared at Sandy Beach next to the breakwater; this time only one of its eyes appeared infected and it had not lost body weight since last hauling out, indicating it was still able to find food.
The female was first seen this year in Timaru, on August 14. R