This is just totally senseless:

MORE than a dozen seals have been found dead around Tasmania, most of them believed shot.

The discovery of nine Australian fur seals on the Ile de Phoques and Taillefer Rocks, between Triabunna and Freycinet, is a blow to hopes that breeding was restarting on the island.

Department of Primary Industries and Water Wildlife and Marine Conservation Officer Andrew Irvine said X-rays had confirmed three on the island were shot in the head, while the others were likely to have died from shots to the body as they rushed towards the water.

"These are areas that have been set aside for the conservation of wildlife and it appears that a person has gone to these islands specifically to shoot some of the wildlife," Mr Irvine said.  [Mercury]