Bunnings manager in disbelief as seal walks into the store

Jul 21, 2023

When a Bunnings store manager was told a seal had wandered into her store, she thought her staff were having her on.

It was around 6.30am on Monday and the Whangārei warehouse, on New Zealand's north island, had just opened when Sara Yates was told the wild marine mammal had wandered into the delivery yard.

Pictures shared with Yahoo News Australia reveal what happened next. Dishwashers, ovens and other heavy products were placed in a circle around the seal, forming a makeshift holding pen.

“I’m so proud of my team as they troubleshot this very random Monday morning situation,” Sara said.

Two rangers from the Department of Conservation (DOC) were told the seal had crossed the road before entering Bunnings.

They hauled the New Zealand fur seal, known locally as a kekeno into their vehicle and drove it to the nearby Reotahi marine reserve.

Seals are often found in unusual places across New Zealand. “Despite it happening every winter, it takes people by surprise,” DOC science advisor Laura Boren said.

Last year, one was found 90km inland on the set of The Hobbit film, and there have been numerous sightings around the country in 2023.

Across the ditch in Australia, locals flocked to see a 400kg male called “Neil the Seal” who made its home in a Tasmanian park.

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Authorities warned rubberneckers to stay away because while it looked cute it could be dangerous. Anthrozoologist Dr Bruce Englefield went one step further warning the animal “could kill you”.

“As soon as you give them a name, people think of them as being like humans. It creates a problem of thinking he’s a lovely and cuddly, but he’s not — he’s a 400kg wild animal,” he said.

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