HMNZS Wellington is anchored in the island’s Perseverance Harbour, 660km south of New Zealand, midway through an expedition around the subantarctic islands.

To read all posts click this link - JC's RNZN SHIPS

Curious sea lions on Campbell Island

MICHAEL FOX ON CAMPBELL ISLAND

Last updated 22:21 03/03/2014

Share

Supplied

CURIOUS LOCALS: Sea lions have been reclaiming the habitat over the years at Campbell Island.

Ads by Google

Printed Flags & Bannerswww.brandstand.co.nz/Outdoors

For Outdoor Promotions - Get Flags Custom Printed w/ Your Logo Today

Work crews on Campbell Island are having to fend off curious sea lions and reclaim land lost to bush.

The HMNZS Wellington is anchored in the island’s Perseverance  Harbour, 660km south of New Zealand, midway through an expedition around the subantarctic islands.

Department of Conservation and MetService staff, supported by the Navy, have been carrying out maintenance tasks around the island, including clearing  tracks, servicing the weather station and preparing some buildings for removal.

The island’s human footprint has decreased significantly since the MetService station became fully automated in 1995, and with few visitors the island is increasingly returning to its natural state.

There were hilarious scenes yesterday when working parties were forced to fend  off territorial sea lions with sticks, taking turns to distract them so their friends and  colleagues could pass.

One sea lion repeatedly chased people, and a shag, off the wharf at the foot of the MetService buildings.

MetService volunteer Ross Carroll, who lived on the island for a year in 1986, said  the sea lions had not been so possessive or prevalent around the base during his time  there.

"We saw the odd sea lion but it’s quite noticeable now that they’ve really taken the  place over and it creates issues, but it’s all good fun. It’s their home now, we’re only  temporary visitors…" 

At one point, Carroll’s colleagues were forced to stand guard below his ladder while he boarded up windows, due to a male sea lion who persistently tried to get closer.

Groups of sea lions also repeatedly chased the Navy’s inflatable Zodiac boats while  three massive sea lions, currently shedding, wallowed together in the banks of Tucker  Cove.

Department of Conservation southern islands operations manager Brent Beaven said  the sea lions were mostly young males who were not breeding, had some spare time and were being curious. 

"They’re not aggressive or anything but it’s certainly their domain, it’s their place, we’re the ones coming in and seeing it."

 Mother Nature was clawing back those areas which had previously been cleared or  occupied by people, he said.

"You’re certainly seeing that sea lions are all around the base now but everything is  getting overgrown, the old tracks have got tussocks and mega herbs and everything  growing back on them so it’s certainly starting to reclaim this place."