A leopard seal spotted on the beach at Petone, Lower Hutt, on 8 September, 2022. Photo: Supplied / Giverny Forbes
A leopard seal that visited Petone Beach in Wellington today has now left to seek new shores.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) said the seal was last seen heading towards Somes Island.
Biodiversity ranger, David Moss, said the young adult seal was in good condition and appeared to be resting up after a rough couple of days off the South Coast.
A leopard seal spotted on the beach at Petone, Lower Hutt, displays a warning behaviour on 8 September, 2022. Photo: Supplied / Giverny Forbes
He said leopard seals were relatively rare visitors to the capital, only spotted once or twice a year usually.
The seal spent much of its time on the beach sleeping, occasionally raising its head.
Some locals formed a driftwood perimeter to prevent people from getting too close to it.
A previous sighting at Oriental Bay in July was the first time one of the animals had come so close to Wellington city, according to a DOC marine advisor.
One had previously come onto the shore at Petone Harbour in 2018.
A leopard seal spotted on the beach at Petone, Lower Hutt, on 8 September, 2022. Photo: Supplied / Giverny Forbes