Experts investigate after young seal dies following suspicious attack at Victorian beach

Experts are investigating a suspicious attack on a young fur seal that had to be euthanised after sustaining severe injuries on an eastern Victorian beach.

A member of the public contacted Victoria's Marine Response Unit with a report of a beached juvenile fur seal at Lake Bunga beach near Lakes Entrance about 8am on 17 September.

It's understood the seal was unharmed and resting in the morning, but about 6pm that evening the same passerby returned to the beach and found the animal had sustained facial wounds and serious back injuries.

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Human and dog footprints were also found around the seal, along with a large stick which was not there in the morning.

A vet assessed the seal and found it had a spinal fracture and several rib fractures and made the decision to euthanise the animal due to the severity of its injuries.

Experts at Melbourne Zoo will now conduct a necropsy on the seal to better understand the injuries which led to its death.

The Victorian government's wildlife and biodiversity watchdog, the Conservation Regulator is also investigating the suspicious incident.

Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to confidentially report it to Crime Stoppers.