A third sea snake in as many weeks has been discovered on Whangamatā Beach, raising fresh concerns over danger to children and pets in the coastal town and reinforcing warnings from the Department of Conservation (DoC) and local authorities.
The latest encounter occurred around 4pm on Tuesday (July 23), when a local resident stumbled upon the reptile buried in the sand near the Whangamatā Surf Club.
“(I) dug it out with a Stick and took it up to the grass edge to dispose of it but decided to phone TCDC council but they had no idea what to do,” said the resident.
“So then asked a policeman and he said to phone DOC (Department of Conservation). I didn’t particularly want to put it in my freezer as they asked, as they wanted it dropped off to check out the species in Thames sometime, but I wasn’t headed.
“DOC told me to leave it there and they would get someone to retrieve it tomorrow. I was worried if a dog may attempt to eat it. I probably should of put it in a bag in the bin maybe, ” they added.
Just last week, beachgoers were urged to avoid a highly venomous yellow-bellied sea snake found alive on the same stretch of coastline. Another snake was reported found dead in a bay the week previous in close proximity to the holiday hotspot. The Department of Conservation issued a public safety warning, cautioning locals and holidaymakers to avoid contact with the exotic marine creature.
“Although they are generally docile, these snakes are highly venomous, so it’s important not to approach or handle them,” a DoC spokesperson said.
The Thames-Coromandel District Council reinforced the warning, describing it as an “important message” for beach users across the region.
Yellow-bellied sea snakes are rare in New Zealand, with DoC typically recording between six and ten sightings annually, mainly along the northeast coast of the North Island. However, there have been reports of sightings as far south as Cook Strait.
These snakes are pelagic, meaning they live entirely in open ocean waters and cannot survive on land. They are known to feed on small fish and are capable of diving to depths of up to 50 metres for extended periods.
“Beached yellow-bellied sea snakes will almost certainly be dead or dying,” the department said. “But they should still be treated with extreme caution.”
DoC continues to advise the public to:
- Stay well away from sea snakes, even if they appear lifeless
- Keep children and pets at a safe distance
- Report sightings to the DoC hotline: 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)
- Send photos and GPS coordinates where possible to assist wildlife officers
Authorities say the incident is a timely reminder to remain alert for unfamiliar marine wildlife, especially as warm currents may be drawing more tropical species into New Zealand’s coastal waters.
