A road closed for a month to protect a family of sea lions

 

When the New Zealand sea lions cross the road, the cars look away. On the outskirts of the city of Dunedin, in the south of the country, the authorities are calling on the population to take the greatest care of a mother and her baby who have taken up residence on a golf course near the sea. water, both must cross a busy road which represents a real danger.

Thus, as reported by The Independent, the municipality announced on Facebook its decision to close this part of the road for a whole month “in order to allow certain very special residents to use it in complete safety”. “It will still be possible to explore this area on foot or by bike, but please leave enough space for sea lions (a distance of at least 20 meters), adds the message. If you walk your dog, please keep him on a leash. ”

A particularly endangered species

New Zealand sea lions are particularly threatened. Affected by climatic conditions which can be devastating for the young, their population is currently estimated at around 15,000 individuals. Thus, the news was greeted with kindness on the side of the local population. Some are even calling for the permanent closure of this road or the total ban on dogs in the area to limit the attacks that have already claimed many victims among the sea lions.

The city also frequently closes certain accesses, but generally for a period of one or two days. This allows especially endangered animals to cross the road. But on the golf course, the mother and her baby are well settled. “As long as golfers keep enough distance and don’t shoot at sea lions, they’ll have time to take it easy,” says Jim Fyfe of the Coastal Biodiversity Conservation Department.

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