Man throws dead fish at leopard seal's face on Petone Beach
A man was filmed throwing a dead fish at a leopard seal on a New Zealand beach, prompting warnings from the Department of Conservation about wildlife harassment. Experts emphasize that leopard seals are dangerous apex predators and that human interference poses risks to both the public and the animals.
Why it matters
It underscores the importance of wildlife protection laws and the dangers of human-wildlife conflict in urban coastal areas.
Footage of a man throwing a dead fish at a three-metre leopard seal on Petone Beach has emerged online, with the Department of Conservation (DOC) warning people harassing the animal could land them a hefty fine.
The seal - which had left by Monday morning - was first spotted on the Wellington beach on Friday night, and attracted hundreds of spectators over the weekend .
Local Carrie was one of several yelling at the man to stop, heard in the background of a video shared to social media.
"I heard him saying to his kids, 'Let's go feed it'," she told RNZ.
"He hopped the little fence, and got the fish, and threw it at the seal."
Carrie said the man then looked at the crowd of about 20 people and yelled at them to "feed the bugger".
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