.jpg) Owha in 2016 | |
| Other name(s) | Owha |
|---|---|
| Species | Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | Before 2012 (age ≥ 12) |
| Residence | Waters off northern North Island, New Zealand |
| Weight | 400 kg (882 lb; 63 st 0 lb) |
| Height | 3.1 m (10 ft) (length) |
Owha ([ɔfa], b. before 2012) is a leopard seal that has been seen throughout the northern North Island of New Zealand, such as in Auckland's Waitematā Harbour, where she likes to sleep on pontoons. Being known for what Stuff has described as "highly inquisitive behaviour", Owha sometimes breaks fenders and pops inflatable dinghies. The long form of her name, He owha nā ōku tūpuna, was given to her in 2016 by local hapū Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei; it is Māori for "treasured gift from our ancestors". She was last seen in 2022.