A family in Wellington got a surprise when a young seal decided to take a nap on their porch, as per a post on the New Zealand Department of Nature Conservation’s Facebook page:
“He undertook a sort of journey by climbing the steps of the dam, crossing the road, taking the sidewalk, following the access path, finally climbing another staircase before arriving at his resting place” , described the Department of Nature Conservation.
“It’s an unusual occurrence to come home and see a seal curled up on the porch.”
The animal is a New Zealand fur seal, also known as a kekeno, closely related to sea lions despite the name.
During May to September, known as “sea lion mischief season” in New Zealand, young and adult male fur seals leave their colonies, often appearing in unexpected places like roads, public areas, and homes.
The Department of Nature Conservation advises that this behavior is normal and requires no special intervention.
“They may appear thin or sick, with watery eyes and coughing, but this is not the case. is normal – seals are very resilient animals,” they wrote on Facebook. “Seals need rest, not rescue.”
If a seal is on your property, injured, or in danger, it’s advised to call the department. In the case of the seal found sleeping on the porch, an officer relocated it to a safer area away from dogs and traffic.
What an adorable little seal! It would be great to discover it behind the front door!
