To protect a sea lioness and her cub born last week, a coastal road will be completely closed to motor traffic for a month, the administration of the second largest city on the South Island announced a few days ago. Reason: Mother and child have nested on an adjacent golf course, but regularly crawl across the asphalt to reach the beach.
“We have closed John Wilson Ocean Drive to traffic for one month,” city leaders tweeted a few days ago. “You can still walk or bike, but keep a 20-yard distance and keep dogs on a leash.”
The unusual sea lion conservation program generated buzz online and was picked up by numerous local media outlets. “How incredible and how wonderful…. New Zealand forever!” commented one user. “They care in Dunedin,” commented another.
Ten more sea lions had been spotted in the area, with more still expected to give birth, the New Zealand Herald newspaper wrote. New Zealand sea lions are classified as endangered.
