A 2-year-old female sea lion was found dead at the beach north of Dunedin last week, suffering what a necropsy later confirmed was a gunshot wound.
Janet Ledingham had been asked to name the female pup, born at Aramoana on New Year’s Day two years ago, in recognition of her volunteer work with the animals.
Ms Ledingham chose the name Jean.
Last week, a Department of Conservation ranger informed Ms Ledingham Jean had been found dead on the harbour side of Aramoana Beach with what appeared to be a bullet wound.
A necropsy at Massey University later confirmed the animal had been shot, Ms Ledingham said.
She was left feeling "really, really sick" by the incident.
"For someone to shoot a 2-year-old sea lion pup is unbelievable, it really is.
"What sort of person would do that? It’s beyond my comprehension.
"She wouldn’t have been any harm to anybody.
"Aside from the character she was, it’s another breeding female we will never have, which is pretty horrible as well," she said.
Doc Coastal Otago operations manager Gabe Davies said the dead New Zealand sea lion (pakake) was found by a member of the public.
Mr Davies called it an upsetting and horrific find.
The loss of this sea lion was disappointing for conservationists, who hoped the vulnerable Otago population would grow, he said.
"There are currently only 30 breeding-age females on the Otago Peninsula.
"Last year, we had 21 pups born; of these only five females survived.
"Females who survive to breeding age, which is around 4 years old, are very precious, and this sea lion was well on her way there."
New Zealand sea lions were among the rarest sea lion species in the world and were classified as "nationally vulnerable" and protected, he said.
New Zealand Sea Lion Trust co-chair Shaun McConkey called the incident "heartbreaking".
"Coastal communities in Otago have really begun to understand and embrace the natural return of sea lions to our shores in recent years.
"Awareness and appreciation have been growing, so it’s hugely disappointing that there are still individuals out there undermining that work."
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