Local angered at DOC response

A Paraparaumu resident is angered at The Department of Conservation after an incident today.

Photo - Ciaran Callaghan

Resident Ciaran Callaghan spoke to The BOP Live this evening after he was left angered and upset with the Department of Conservation.

I was out on the beach with family when he noticed a young seal not moving, "I monitored that the seal was still breathing slightly" Callaghan stated that he moved the seal into the water where he stayed with it for approximately 2 hours.

While he stayed with the seal family members went back to the car to get a phone, "On the phone with DOC they stated that unless the seal had been attacked by a dog then they would not come" Callaghan said.

He said that family members and a local police officer on the beach were shocked by The Department of Conservation's response.

After the phone call to DOC he rung the local SPCA who was angered with DOC’s response and they attempted to make contact themselves.

After contacting DOC a second time and sitting with the seal in the water for 2 hours with no such luck  "the seal died in my arms" Callaghan said.

Callaghan and family members buried the seal at the beach.

"I am angered at the Department of Conservations response to the situation mainly because they are supposed to conserve our wildlife and look after everything, although they didn’t seem to care if on-lookers and families witnessed the ordeal. The least they could have done was to come to the beach and remove the Seal from public eye and put it out of its misery. I feel as this would have been the appropriate action. The situation left me distraught, angry and very depressed."

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