A man has been charged after a sea lion pup was shot and killed on Otago Peninsula in November.

Photo: Supplied / John Burke

Police said the 53-year-old man has been charged with wilful mistreatment of an animal under the Animal Welfare Act.

His arrest came after a joint investigation between police, the Department of Conservation and the Dunedin Sea Lion Trust.

The local community of Portobello were devastated after the 11-month-old sea lion pup, known as Rua, was found dead on rocks with a bullet wound and a deep cut in her side.

The Department of Conservation said at the time that Rua was one of only 11 sea lion pups born on the peninsula over the previous summer, and was precious to the survival of the species.

The accused man will appear in Dunedin District Court on Friday.