Wellington, Jan 29 NZPA - About 700 pups of the endangered New Zealand sea lion have been found dead on a subantarctic island.
The 700 pups, about 30 percent of the pups born at the main breeding colony on Dundas Island in the Southern Ocean, and five sea lion cows were found dead by Department of Conservation-contracted (DOC) vet Nick Gales, who was studying the sea lions.
The New Zealand sea lion is one of the world's most threatened sea lions. There is an estimated population of between 11,000 and 15,000 and they are confined to the southern waters of New Zealand.
``DOC is treating the deaths as very serious. We are extremely concerned to find such a large number of dead sea lion pups and will be doing our best to find answers as soon as possible,'' DOC MARINE MAMMAL expert Mike Donoghue said in a statement today.
Mr Donoghue said it was too early to say what caused the deaths. Possible causes were a virus, a bacteria or a toxic algal bloom. All the dead animals appeared ``outwardly healthy and in good condition.''
Pathology and sampling equipment was due to be sent to Dundas Island and nearby Enderby Island, where a small number of dead pups had also been seen, Mr Donoghue said.
Results of tests at Massey University's CETACEAN investigation centre would take about three weeks.