Animals

Leopard seal spotted on Freyberg Beach in Wellington

08:38 am on 27 September 2023

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Wellington boasts some pretty cosy spots for seals to shelter away from chilly southerlies.

A rarely spotted leopard seal with a nasty bite was found bathing in the rain on Freyberg Beach on Tuesday, hours after a fur seal pup was found warming his flippers on Ngauranga's train tracks.

DOC's Marine Reserve ranger for the Kāpiti-Wellington District, Tony Milner, has been tending to wandering marine life all week - after an elated Eastbourne resident woke up to a pup on his doorstep at the weekend.

He says seals are "popping up here, there and everywhere lately".

Milner spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.