A reward for information about three sea lion deaths in Southland has soared to 50 thousand dollars

The New Zealand Sea Lion Trust initially offered five thousand dollars, it was then increased to 12 thousand.

Now an anonymous benefactor has raised it to 50 thousand for information that will lead to a conviction.

The first reward was offered after a female sea lion, and her pup were shot in the Catlins area last year.

Two months later, a third sea lion was stabbed and left to die.