A seal has spent the entire day at Greerton Park near the banks of the Waimapu Stream today.

The seal was first reported at 8am and has remained resting at the location all day, lying close to a footpath which leads from Oropi Road towards the Polytechnic.

A seal spent the day on The Strand in Tauranga this week. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

The Department of Conservation was called to the park where they checked the seal and confirmed it is healthy.

Ranger Dan Rapson says the seal is a little skinny but is otherwise normal and does not need intervention.

'Putting it through the stress of being captured and moved is not warranted at the moment. 'We encourage anyone using the park to keep at least 20metres away from the seal and to ensure that dogs are kept on leads in the area.”

Today's seal adds to a long list of seal sightings in Tauranga and the Western Bay this winter, with DOC receiving daily reports of animals resting on local beaches and in the harbour, says Dan.

He says the vast majority of the seals are healthy and happy.

'Seals will naturally come ashore to rest, preferring rocky outcrops but sometimes lying on sandy beaches or spending time in the shallows basking. In most cases there is nothing alarming going on.

'Seals' biggest threats are humans and dogs; so we want people to control their pets and to give seals room, as these animals are fully protected by law.”

DOC has a minimum intervention policy with seals and Dan says people should only intervene if the seal is seriously injured, being harassed, is entangled in something like a net or rope, or is in a dangerous place such as a road.

In these situations, DOC Rangers will attend and take necessary action. Otherwise it is important to let nature take its course, he says.