Sealalert
Fri, 11. Jan 2008
Dear All Cape Fur Seal
Supporters,
Positively, Seal Alert-SA
2008
Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA with a rescued new-born baby Cape
fur seal
2008 marks a decade for me in
my work with saving the Cape fur seal as a species in two countries
at the southern tip of Africa. Positively Seal Alert-SA moves into
2008. As I approach the age of 45 in March, they the Cape fur
seals, have become my life, not just a part, but my complete life.
My eye-sight failing a little and my hand not so quick as it used
to be, the cold water even colder. Not a day has gone by that they
are not in my life, I have held, loved, saved, disentangled, fed,
swim with and enjoyed more interactions with these wild seals than
anyone on this planet. It has been indeed an absolute honour, made
possible by each of you the backbone to Seal Alert-SA, its
dedicated group from around the world, rarely mentioned by name,
seldom in the media lime-light, but always there, expecting nothing
in return. This email, says thanks to you. On my behalf, and most
importantly on behalf of the seals.
Whilst it is impossible to mention each of you by name (then my
updates would get really, really long), I want you each to know,
that you are far more special than I could ever be. Because even
with all the lime-light I get and the gratification with working
with these seals everyday, I feel despondent and ignored at times.
You on the otherhand get nothing, and yet it is you, which makes
saving their lives possible. You, are their saver. Its that
simple.
My work for wild seals, a difficult and demanding constant task,
has made me not a people's person. I cannot on the one hand look
into dying seals eyes and in the other not harbour immense anger. I
lost those people skills, if I ever had them long long ago. Forgive
me for this omission. I have learnt to just do the job and let my
actions speak for my words on your behalf.
The earliest account I can find of the intentional abuse of this
species at the hand of man dates back to 100 000 years ago, when
the Khoi-San used seal pups for food and oil, instead of saving
them. Nor did occur to Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama in 1497
where, we saw about three thousand, large and small, and we shot at
them from the sea with cannons another account comes in 1608, where
Cornelis Metelief from the Netherlands, our men amused themselves
by clubbing fully a hundred seals to death. 500 years later, it
seems very little has changed. How it saddens me to think what this
species has gone through each and every day, over these centuries
and how many millions have died unnoticed. A wild animal that
urinates in fear, just being picked up lovingly.
Recently the Guardian Newspaper in the UK voted Paul Watson and
Caroline Lucas amongst the top 50 people who are most likely to
change the world. The moment I read this I thought of you.
Seashepherd has also announced the Ian Campbell the former
Australian Minister of the Environment has joined the board of
Seashepherd, along with Horst Kleinschmidt former director-general
of Marine and Coastal Management in South Africa, and a director of
IWC. Once again I thought of the nameless you.
Whilst Horst during his office rejected Seashepherd and had me
arrested for saving seals numerous times, whilst offering a bounty
for fishermen to drown seals. It is through you that Horst and
Seashepherd are together. Paul Watson's base in Australia, from
which he gathers his support and mounts his anti-whaling operations
in the Antarctic, is once again brought about by a very special
seal supporter in Australia. Whom was first introduced by me to
Paul. Likewise, when both his ships were de-flagged and unable to
secure a nationality, a Seal Alert-SA seal supporter came to the
fore and made it possible in the Netherlands. I remember the fight
well, with Caroline Lucas, and how in her written declaration, the
action that may well lead to ending seal clubbing, resulted in her
omission to exclude Cape fur seals, the second biggest seal hunt in
the world. Likewise was our initial none involvement in the recent
EU Seal Hunting review. So whilst I commend Paul and Caroline, they
truly deserve the honour. It is you, always behind the scenes, that
makes things happen.
Likewise without Paul, there would be no Seal Alert-SA or any of
its accomplishments. He will always be Seal Alert-SA number 1
supporter.
To which, as a recent article quoting the Canadian Sealing industry
said, "One thing I can tell you is that if fur is not fashionable
on the runways of Paris and Milan, it's not going to be fashionable
anywhere," he said."It's got a tremendous foothold in Europe, and
most people close to the situation feel that a ban by other
countries is imminent, that it's gone too far. It would be
unpopular now for a member of parliament in a European country to
support the hunt."
To this end, herewith the latest. The Europe Food Safety Review on
Seal Hunting, and there is a public questionnaire to log in and
answer. Enjoy the fruits of your efforts to date. Positively Seal
Alert-SA 2008, backed by the best supporters in the world. Flippers
off to you all.
Get ready for additional monetary demands >from me in 2008, (not
massive ones but demands never the less), as we have a working
rescue home to complete for the seals, as just the start, and as
you all know I cannot do it alone, nor do I want to nor should. So
start writing Seal Alert-SA down in your monthly budgets, seal
please.
PS - We managed to snatch the last two terrified surviving seal
baby pups from the sick Elands Bay saga, and are now safe, tummies
full and are now enjoying their first few days of life, with three
other siblings in your Seal Alert-SA centre.
A link to the full report is included
below.
www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/sealswelfare.pdf
or go to www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSAseals.pdf
and the very important
questionnaire:
eceuropaeu/environmbiodiversityanimalwelfaresealssealhunting.htm
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
