The cruel death of an injured seal pup who was attacked on a popular Australian beach has sparked an urgent investigation by wildlife authorities.
Victoria Police are appealing for witnesses after the juvenile sub-Antarctic fur seal was found with critical injuries on Bunga Beach near Lakes Entrance, in Victoria.
The baby seal was found resting by local resident Anne Kaiser on the shoreline, about 318km east of Melbourne, at about 8am on September 17.
Ms Kaiser notified authorities and returned to the beach at about 6pm to check on the ‘little dude’ who she decided to name ‘Sammy’.
She was horrified to find the seal had suffered serious facial wounds and critical back injuries in the hours since her last visit.
A vet revealed the animal’s spine had been fractured and several of its ribs broken.
Ms Kaiser said seeing Sammy in agony had left her heartbroken.
‘He allegedly was attacked by a dog and its human. His spine snapped in half, just to name one of his injuries,’ she wrote on Facebook.
Victoria Police are appealing for witnesses after the juvenile sub-Antarctic fur seal (pictured) was found with critical injuries on Bunga Beach near Lakes Entrance, in Victoria’s east
The juvenile seal (pictured) had to be euthanised due to the severity of its injuries
A Crime Stoppers spokesperson said human footprints and dog pawprints had been spotted around the seal.
‘A qualified vet assessed the seal and discovered a spinal fracture and multiple rib fractures. The animal was subsequently euthanised due to the severity of the injuries,’ they said.
‘(The resident) also stated seeing a large stick next to the animal that wasn’t previously there.
‘This matter is now under investigation by authorities and evidence has been collected.’
Ms Kaiser wrote the animal had no chance of surviving.
‘It really hurt me seeing little Sammy so peaceful, then just a few hours later the damage we humans can cause,’ she wrote online.
‘RIP little Sammy.’
A local resident was horrified to find the baby seal had suffered serious facial wounds (pictured) and critical back injuries in the hours since she last checked on the animal
Several of Sammy’s ribs were broken and his spine had snapped in half (an x-ray is pictured)
The Conservation Regulator is investigating the incident and Melbourne Zoo will conduct a necropsy to determine how the seal died.
All wildlife, including seals, are protected under Victorian law, and it is illegal to harm, disturb, touch, or go within 30metres of them on land.
Offenders can face fines of more than $49,000 or 12 months in prison if found guilty of animal cruelty and pet owners can face fines of almost $5,000 if their pet attacks, injures or chases wildlife.
The Conservation Regulator has urged anyone with information to report it confidentially to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.
