Transcript
SABRINA BIRK: Right now the veterinarian are verifying this hypothesis that it may come from New Zealand or they say it may come from Galapagos Island or South America but Tahitians believe that it came from New Zealand.
JAMIE TAHANA: And that's because of the ocean currents?
SB: Yes that's what they believe and right now, so the little animal is at the veterinarian, he was sent there and they're checking if he is in good health because it's just a baby it only weighs eight kilos, and they're trying to get it to eat live food and they have made a call to all the fisherman and so many many people have been following the news and contacting them to bring live fish. It is very well shared media wise, the little seal has been on tv, we've all been able to see him on TV, he's very cute and everyone is very concerned about this little sea lion.
JT: So it washed up on Raivavae and it was taken by police to Tahiti where it's receiving the medical care now, is that the case?
SB: Yeah that's right, it has been taken to Tahiti by the police to be taken care of. His name is fox, that's what the person who found him called the animal but for us he's like Tupaia, he travelled the great ocean to come here, he's a great navigator but he's Maori.
JT: It's a baby isn't it, is there any indication of how it managed to come by itself or what happened?
SB: We have absolutely no idea there was no mother found next to this baby. There are big big wave between New Zealand to here and so maybe he took a rid on the back of a whale, who knows?
JT: What's the little sea lion's condition, is it expected to survive?
SB: What I heard is yes he's eaten, they brought him fish and he's eaten fish and they're trying to get him some squid.
JT: What's the government planning to do with it, are they going to bring it to health and release it in the waters of French Polynesia or try and get it back to New Zealand or the Galapagos or something?
SB: They have written on their Facebook page they're going to try to get it to regain weight because it did lose weight and it was dehydrated and they're going to try and get it back in good health. They are trying to find out where this little sea lion comes from and I think they're trying to get in contact with a nursery in New Zealand for New Zealand to take care of it.
