Jade, the mother sea lion of a pup who was shot and killed in the Catlins last month, was also found killed by someone with a firearm last week.
She was found by a local about 100m from where her pup was found dead, in the Catlins estuary, and it is believed she washed up there during the recent flooding.
The pair of New Zealand sea lions (pakake) made headlines in February when Jade gave birth to the pup 60km inland from the Clutha coast, which astonished experts and was hailed as "new, unexpected and exciting behaviour" for the species.
Pam and Graham Hunter, the owners of the Tuapeka Mouth sheep and beef farm where the pup was born, said it was "unbelievable" that the pup, and now her mother, had been shot and killed.
Their family was "lost for words".
"Nature is full of surprises. Man sometimes disappoints us."
Their family had informally named the sea lion pup "Bluey" as she was born at the foot of the Blue Mountains.
Mrs Hunter said Bluey was "just the most delightful little animal" and they had often brought their 11 grandchildren down to visit the pup.
She recalled sitting and watching the pup play by herself in a shallow bit of water.
The animal had been a "nice diversion" during a few "pretty hard months" when the farm entered an extended dry patch.
She was even considering writing a children’s book about Bluey, she said.
"This is not really the end of the story I want... It has just ended horribly and I think everybody feels it."
Jade and her pup had, for a while, felt like they were a part of their livestock and were creatures they regarded with respect and admiration.
It was "incredibly disappointing" that these two sea lions in particular were killed, given their history in the area, Mrs Hunter said.
"You just don't know what sort of person would do that. It just raises a lot of questions."
Mr Hunter said Bluey was "the one most amazing creature" he had ever seen and felt privileged to have had the animal on their farm.
"It was just like a wee puppy."
In a statement last week, Doc Southern South Island operations director Aaron Fleming said they did not know when, where or why the sea lions had been shot, or if they were shot at the same time.
An X-ray and examination had shown Jade was riddled with 50 shotgun pellets, most having entered her chest and spine.
Some of the pellets would be forensically tested to see if they matched the ones found in the pup, Mr Fleming said.
Under the Wildlife Act, it is illegal to injure or kill protected native wildlife such as sea lions.
Anyone who did so could face punishments of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
The New Zealand Sea Lion Trust (NZSLT) has increased the reward it is offering for information leading to a conviction for the shooting from $5000 to $11,000.
• Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to come forward by calling 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
