Three clues linked to 'suspicious' marine mammal incident on Aussie tourist beach
The young sub-Antarctic fur seal was just beginning its life and hadn't yet learned to avoid humans.
Scattered along the golden sands of a picturesque Aussie tourist destination, investigators have documented three disturbing clues they believe could be linked to a shocking crime. A stick, dog paw marks, and human footprints.
It’s believed they could be associated with a violent incident involving a small fur seal at Lake Bunga Beach. The ordinarily quiet stretch of coastline is located at the beginning of Lakes Entrance in eastern Victoria.
The young animal was originally spotted by a walker on September 17, resting at the edge of a dune and reportedly in good health. After a call was made to Zoos Victoria about the discovery, the group's Marine Response Unit committed to monitor the seal’s presence and condition over the next 24 hours.
But unfortunately the animal’s circumstances soon dramatically changed for the worse.
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Walker spots three sinister clues around injured seal
When the walker returned at 6pm to take another look at the seal, they discovered it had been badly injured. That’s when they noticed the footprints around the animal and a “large stick” that hadn’t been there before.
An image supplied to Yahoo News by Crime Stoppers Victoria shows a large gash under the animal's lip. The agency described the seal’s circumstances as “suspicious” and has urged anyone with information to come forward.
That’s because the seal’s injuries were worse than it originally appeared. Sadly, an X-ray by medical staff later revealed its back had been fractured – an unrecoverable injury that meant it had to be euthanised.
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Walking within 30 metres of a seal on land can result in a maximum penalty of $3,951, and people who intentionally harm them face fines of up to $49,397 or 12 months in prison. If you have information about wildlife crime you can report it anonymously to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.
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