A baby seal caused a stir in Wellington on Sunday when it wandered onto busy Hutt Road, before police and conservation officers stepped in to guide it safely back to the water.
The young seal was spotted crossing the road on 27 September 2026. After making it across, it then tried to head back towards the water, weaving through traffic and worrying passers-by.
Police and staff from the Department of Conservation (DOC) worked together to keep the pup safe. Senior Sergeant Miriam Bentley said officers were able to “uplift the seal and drive it to a safe place where it was released into the water.”
She said the teamwork “prevented any further issues for the young seal and for road users.”
Constable Taylor, who helped escort the seal, said it was an unusual job. “When I joined police 15 months ago, they said to be ready for anything, so I guess this demonstrates that’s true!”
DOC says seal sightings on land around Wellington have shot up lately, something staff are calling “seal silly season,” as young seals leave the colony to explore on their own for the first time.
Anyone who spots a seal out of the water is asked to call DOC or police rather than approaching it themselves, so the animal can get expert help if it needs it.
The Wellington seal is now back safely in the ocean, no worse for its road trip.
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