KM... 946 Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 It's been reported it came up under a dingy and gave it a bump in Westhaven yesterday. Not to sure if it was intentional and if so a good or bad meaning nudge. It may have just been saying G'day or it maybe looking for a big lunch, don't know. It's also reported to have chased another dog. Again it maybe wanting to play or have lunch, know one is sure. Westhaven and DOC are monitoring Happy Teeth and don't appear too concerned but has said to keep an eye out for it just in case. The PCC Sailing School (an Olympic Gold and Silver medal sailing school now) are aware of what's what so are keeping a watch on the situation to make sure little Johnny or Janice doesn't get eaten. Just a heads up not a 'get out of the water warning'. Please report any incidents to the Westhaven office so they can monitor her better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 381 Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 the rolled up carpet during her short stay at okahu waddaya rekon a sparrow shat on her nose? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bogan 8 Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 I'm interested in the idea of "stay 20m away" that they recommend. That could rip your nightie if she's basking on your pier, between the ramp and the boat. "Can't go racing tonight lads, let's retire early to the bar". "Sorry about the weekend cruise that I invited you on, looks like we're sleeping in the car." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
waikiore 90 Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 Westhaven will ferry you past her if you get trapped on the pier, of course it pays to take your phone to be able to call them. Though DOC are monitoring her wellbeing I am extremely concerned about the wellbeing of the Westhaven parore population, their numbers have plummeted and of course when the eco system gets out of balance, we have now an explosion of growth on the piles and piers without the parore nibbling on it. So I guess it will cost all of us to entertain her in the Marina..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ptown 6 Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 I'm quite astounded that something this apparently dangerous hasn't been rehomed. Has anyone complained about it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John B 93 Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 Well,in one very possible scenario.....Next year she'll be back with pups , and then a few years later they come back with pups , and then we end up like those marinas you see closed down in America.. San Diego? covered in sea lions , cept we get leopard seals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 381 Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 ^ nah young leopard seals are often up this far north but only ever by themselves when she wants pups, or probably before she'll head back south, find a mate, calve on the ice and not come back records of leopard seals along the SouthAfrica coast are:23 october 1969 at Hout Bay, 17 August 2005 at Hout Bay and a record 4 years ago 15 July 2010 at ‘Die Dam’ in the Western Cape. Leopard seals are potentially highly dangerous towards humans, but attacks are rarely reported.[20] Examples of aggressive behaviour, stalking and attacks have been documented.[21] Notable incidents include: leopard seal attack on a member of Shackleton's crew, Thomas Orde-Lees, who was skiing across sea ice when a leopard seal emerged from between two floes and lunged after him in bold, snakelike movements. Orde-Lees managed to keep ahead, kicking and gliding, until the seal dived into an open lane of water and tracked him from below—following his shadow—to pop up ahead. Orde-Lees turned and yelled for help. The seal pursued until it was shot dead by Frank Wild, Shackleton's second-in-command. A large leopard seal attacked Thomas Orde-Lees (1877–1958), a member of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1917 when the expedition was camping on the sea ice.[20] A large "sea leopard" of about 12 ft (3.7 m) long and 1,100 lb (500 kg) chased Orde-Lees on the ice. He was saved only when another member of the expedition, Frank Wild, shot the animal. In 1985, Scottish explorer Gareth Wood was bitten twice on the leg when a leopard seal tried to drag him off the ice and into the sea. His companions managed to save him by repeatedly kicking the animal in the head with the spiked crampons on their boots.[20][21] In 2003, a leopard seal dragged snorkeling biologist Kirsty Brown of the British Antarctic Survey nearly 200 ft (61 m) underwater to her death, in what was identified as the first known human fatality from a leopard seal.[20][21] Leopard seals have shown a particular predilection for attacking the black, torpedo-shaped pontoons of rigid inflatable boats, necessitating researchers to equip their craft with special protective guards to prevent them from being punctured.[21][22] Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 381 Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 tho according to this stuff story she's a bulky adult but being stuff they then go on to say she's not that bulky at all Miller noted this seal wasn't as large as adult females could grow to, and was probably happy eating fish and crabs in the Waitemata Harbour "and certainly not looking for anything bigger". http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11710386 certainly wouldn't want any of the 'toy' dogs barking at her or swimming when she's near Quote Link to post Share on other sites
waikiore 90 Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 She has followed and sized up at least three boatbuilders dogs that I know of recently in different areas of Westhaven, and I believe followed the berley trail to the squadrons kids fishing event on opening day, now that would have caused a fuss chewing on a junior member, luckily their noise seemed to put it off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KM... 946 Posted October 6, 2016 Author Share Posted October 6, 2016 I'm quite astounded that something this apparently dangerous hasn't been rehomed. Has anyone complained about it? Having a bay full of kids in a sailing school we have taken many precautions to make sure none get eaten. That has involved talking to DOC, the Zoo and some Seal experts amongst others. All have said while they can be dangerous it is living in a predator free environment so will be relaxed, it has a good very easy food source so won't be hungry, gets to lounge around so will be getting lazy, all of which adds up to making her rather laid back, as can be seen by the way people walk past her and she doesn't care, unlike in the wild where she would probably have a crack at something that came that close. Basically they said treat her like a big dog or shark or wife. Take a swipe at it and it very well may swipe back, let it be and it has no reason to have a go at anything. They have also said with the abundance of easy to catch food why would it go after something far larger and harder to eat like little Johnny. Basically she has done nothing for anyone to be worried about and shouldn't do as long as no one pisses her off, again just like most wives Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin McCready 28 Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 What is it with the misogyny theme? 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sail Rock 15 Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 I saw a huge school of grey mullet in Westhaven on Monday, around piers L and M. Possibly spawning? Plenty of tucker for the seal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
raz88 60 Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Be good for business for the floating dock... I know of several people who usually swim on their boats to clean them who aren't seeming so keen at the moment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KM... 946 Posted October 7, 2016 Author Share Posted October 7, 2016 What is it with the misogyny theme? You see misogyny in that? Really??? Open a window, let some fresh air in. I saw a huge school of grey mullet in Westhaven on Monday, around piers L and M. Over the north corner there are motherload as well. Not so many of the real big ones though, maybe that's why Happy Teeth is looking so fat Not to sure I'd be scrubbing my bottom at the moment. Thrashing around in a wetsuit could look like a male seal doing some mating thing........... I very much don't like the idea of where that could lead to. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deep Purple 257 Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Be good for business for the floating dock... I know of several people who usually swim on their boats to clean them who aren't seeming so keen at the moment. Diveworx aren't cleaning any boats in the water at Westhaven. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 205 Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Because of seal? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 747 Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 I'm interested in the idea of "stay 20m away" that they recommend. That could rip your nightie if she's basking on your pier, between the ramp and the boat. "Can't go racing tonight lads, let's retire early to the bar". "Sorry about the weekend cruise that I invited you on, looks like we're sleeping in the car." Happened to is in Florida with a alligator. Had to wait a few hours till it decided to move on Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 802 Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Because of seal? Its not an ordinary seal. Leopard Seals have killed people, They are an apex predator. I've been diving with seals on quite a few occasions, but I would not intentionally dive near a leopard seal. If you are interested, look up leopard seals on google, there are quite a few cases of attacks and a few deaths. Then consider that most of these animals live far away from humans... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 205 Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Yep, sorry, got all that, was just surprised that the leopard seal was stopping divers cleaning boats (and earning money). At what point does it get 'relocated'? It was swimming under voom a few months ago, just as i was about to jump in. I didnt get in.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 381 Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 when people start complaining we'll go through a public breast beating period people talking heath + safety there'll be counter arguments that orca are also here but it will be pointed out that the snorkeller that was killed shows that despite minimal human interaction leopards are recent killers and probably 10x? more dangerous than killers it should be down south, it should have recovered sufficient condition to be returned safely by rnzaf herc to southland if gareth morgan will fund it etc etc etc as long as cats get registered with bell collars etc etc etc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chippie 5 Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Call me a wuss but it makes me think twice about cruising round on my inflatable paddle board. It swam under our boat while we were dropping sails just past the bridge and it was a lot bigger than I'd realised. I've already had a whack from a stingray out from Herne Bay and I'm not sure which of us got the bigger fright. Made me very aware of the meaning of the word inflatable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deep Purple 257 Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Because of seal? Kinda, more the paperwork to be filed at OSH when an employ loses an arm to a marine mammal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 381 Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 not auckland not a seal but not too dissimilar or too far away in place or time for insurance companies to ignore Paul de Gelder: So, I’m what’s called a Navy clearance diver. It’s basically a bomb disposal diver. We’re in Sydney Harbor, a place where I’ve dived a hundred times before, and we were doing a counterterrorism exercise. It’s pretty boring. It sounds exciting, but it’s pretty boring. All I was doing was swimming along, acting like an attack swimmer. I was on the surface on my back and a bull shark came up from underneath me, and grabbed me by the hamstring and the hand in the same bite. http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/07/06/navy-diver-who-lost-two-limbs-in-shark-attack-goes-on-quest-for-joan-shark.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gurge 0 Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 We were watching the bungee jumping then saw the seal. If the jumpers knew how close the seal was I don't think they would have gone for the dunk option. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GregW 23 Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I wonder what it would have to do to get offed? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 381 Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 piss off the orca? going to be interesting when they do the harbour swims + triathlons herne bay to watchman's island 29 oct http://www.aucklandharbourswims.org.nz/index.php/events/herne-bay-watchmans-island Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KM... 946 Posted October 13, 2016 Author Share Posted October 13, 2016 Oh oh, it's getting more adventurous and trying to hop into dingys now, even bite a inflatable the other evening reports are saying. It's now shutting down Dragon boating, Sailing schools, school visits to the area and other stuff as no one is willing to take a punt the Seal will only play nice. As much as I like the Seal I sadly think the time has come for it to be departed from the area for the greater good of every other user. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jon 159 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Tow it out of the environment Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 435 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Tow it out of the environment The problem is, they often come straight back. You would have to take it a long way out of the environment. Like way down south to their normal grounds. I am most certainly no expert on Leopard Seals, but I doubt she would worry anyone, unless you got really close to her on purpose. Usually they stay away from People. They have to feel threatened to get dangerous. I know they have killed, but I don't think they have done so for Food as such. And this one seems happy enough food wise. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Freedom GBE 27 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I am happy for happy teeth to stay as long as she behaves. Inocent untill proven guilty. I scan the horison before I go for a swim around the boat and next time might just have knife at the ready to defend myself. If you tow happy teeth out than you should do the same with the orca, sharks and sting rays. Maybe put a tracker on her so that we know where she is? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin McCready 28 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 A knife would be useful after she's bitten off half your leg or more. Tracker is not a bad idea though. But where's there's one .... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KM... 946 Posted October 13, 2016 Author Share Posted October 13, 2016 Tow it out of the environment She has popped out to Barrier and the Islands a few times and does get around a fair bit, she has been seen up the harbour as well so she knows the wider area well. We have been advised by experts the only way to get her gone is to relocate her a long long way away. But there is a big fear she has been humanised so now has little worry of us 2 legged critters which means relocation a long way from humans i.e towing her out to Little Barrier just ain't gonna do the job. In the last week or 2 the level of concern has increased drastically due to her change in behaviour. She is now getting aggressive, something she hasn't done until now. No one, including the Seal, can afford a harm incident. If one happens the media will go off, the seal will suffer a lead related issue and every other animal that could be construed as dangerous and living around humans will suffer the same. Not to mention Westhaven is heading towards becoming a dead zone for any on the water activities. Today alone 70 kids due down next week were told, Sorry we can't afford the risk so stay at school. Dragon boats have cancelled events also in the last few days. Sadly the risk of harm has now over taken the reward of having wild wild life in out harbour and surrounds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dtwo 135 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 205 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I am happy for happy teeth to stay as long as she behaves. Inocent untill proven guilty. I scan the horison before I go for a swim around the boat and next time might just have knife at the ready to defend myself. If you tow happy teeth out than you should do the same with the orca, sharks and sting rays. Maybe put a tracker on her so that we know where she is? She has definitely been in our neck of the woods, on multiple occasions.... It is quite different from orca, sharks and stingrays. Their normal natural environment is here. The leopard seal does not normally inhabit these waters. It is arguably more dangerous than orca, sharks and stingrays as well. If it is stopping dragon boating, kids learning to sail and divers cleaning boats, i would vote for 'removal' Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jon 159 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 What about dropping her off the bus at Onehunga ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 381 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 she'd probably eat the cute little fur seals in the manukau "It would have been much cheaper to have sent Happy Feet humanely to his happy hunting grounds and employed a taxidermist to make an exhibition for Te Papa, frozen his innards and sent them to a zoo to feed some poor hapless leopard seal," he wrote. After 10 weeks in Wellington, Happy Feet boarded research ship Tangaroa and headed for the Campbell Islands, 700 kilometres south of Bluff. With a friendly shove from those aboard, he returned to the chilly seas on September 4. A week later his satellite tracker stopped transmitting - it may have fallen off, or Happy Feet might have met an unhappy end. "It is possible he became whale-fodder, as orca and leopard seals are the main predators of emperor penguins," thePost said. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/70229675/penguin-happy-feet-becomes-a-wellington-celebrity--150-years-of-news Quote Link to post Share on other sites
waikiore 90 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 +1 for the Manukau Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 435 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Happy feet was probably thinking " I used to be able to swim much faster without this thing around my neck" as the Orca was looming up behind him.About a month ago, some Uni students snuck into some enclosure and released a Penguin. they took it too the beach and said " be free" as they let it go. The next day the Zoo said that the Penguin had been hand reared and captive since it was a Chick and likely would not survive a day or two. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ScottiE 174 Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 +1 for rapid lead disease Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dambo 41 Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 She has definitely been in our neck of the woods, on multiple occasions.... I went for a swim/bottom-clean on Saturday... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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