Image collection: Seals liberated

This is a sample of photographs. You can search the catalogue for more or browse the collections.

The Government brought from Macquarie Island a number of seals, penguins, mollymawks (albatross) and petrels for the New Zealand International Exhibition held in Christchurch in 1906. These Subantarctic creatures were collected by Captain Bollons of the Hinemoa. The seals included a great sea-lion (named “Jumbo”), two black seals (named “Bully” and “Lady Nelly”), a brown seal and a fur-seal (named “The Sneak”). The birds and seals were kept in a pond and enclosure made by fencing off a portion of the Victoria Lakelet, and were fed and looked after by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society.

They were liberated on 14 May 1907 at New Brighton. Read Homeward Bound: Liberation of the Exhibition seals in The Press, 15 May 1907, digitised in Papers Past.

Antarctic life at the exhibition [1906]	The sea lion and hair seals. [1906]	The cage in which the seals were taken to New Brighton. [1907]
“Bully” and “Lady Nelly” making for the ocean after being liberated. [1907]	“Bully” and “Lady Nelly” making for the ocean after being liberated. [1907]	“The Sneak” farewelling. [1907]