A fur seal fondly acknowledged by residents as a 'Dunedin icon' has been found dead.
Dale's body was found on train tracks on Wednesday afternoon, and it's believed he was hit by a train and killed instantly.
The celebrity seal was known for hanging around busy roads and other public places, prompting a number of call-outs for the Department of Conservation (DoC).
Just last month he disrupted peak morning traffic when he decided the best place to lie down for a tan was in the middle of the road.
He was a common fixture around the upper harbour area, often heading to land two or three times a week.
"The seal got me through some hard times at university and I'm pretty upset that he's no longer with us," a distraught ex-Dunedin resident told Newshub.
DoC identified his body due to his worn-out teeth, and says he will be buried at the beach.
Newshub.
