Foul play has been ruled out in the deaths of about 40 fur seals found in Banks Peninsula at the weekend, but scientists still don't know how they died.
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A ranger counted 41 dead New Zealand fur seals, or kekeno, at Te Oka Bay and sent six of them to Massey University for post-mortem examination.
DOC Mahaanui (Christchurch) operations manager Andy Thompson said it was possible the pups died in a colony nearby and washed up at Te Oka Bay in the large swells from a series of storms.
Staff think the seals had been there since early July.
