Watch a short video of wild fur seal pups (kekeno) playing in the freshwater pools of the Ohau Stream waterfall in Kaikōura, New Zealand.
This short wildlife film is a little off-topic from my usual Welsh landscape painting videos, but the pure charm of these baby seals makes it a must-watch for any nature lover. I captured this incredible footage while on a plein air painting trip across the dramatic coastal landscapes of the South Island.
In a phenomenon completely unique to New Zealand, these tiny fur seal pups (kekeno) leave the safety of their coastal breeding colony on the beach and journey entirely unassisted. They navigate up the narrow Ohau Stream, traveling inland for about a mile to reach a magical, secluded freshwater pool and waterfall. Once there, the pups stay and play together in a natural, predator-free nursery for hours—or even days—at a time, without any adult seals accompanying them.
Art & Travel Inspiration: Capturing the play of light on the water alongside such rare wildlife behavior is exactly what inspires my landscape work. If you love coastal nature scenes, you might also enjoy exploring my collection of original coastal oil paintings and open-edition wildlife art prints inspired by the shores closer to my home studio.
Important Environmental Update: The 2016 Kaikōura Earthquake
- Ohau Stream Track Closure: The devastating 7.8-magnitude Kaikōura earthquake triggered massive landslides across the region. Due to ongoing rockfall hazards and unstable cliffs, the Department of Conservation (DOC) has permanently closed the Ohau Stream Walkway to ensure public safety.
- Resilient Wildlife Habits: Although the deep waterfall pool was significantly altered and partially filled with debris, the resilient seal pups still navigate their way up the stream today to shelter from the heavy ocean currents.
- Where to View Seals Safely Now: Travelers visiting Kaikōura can still experience this incredible wildlife spectacle from the newly constructed Ōhau Point Lookout boardwalk directly off State Highway 1, where you can safely view the breeding colony from above.
