From: Sealalert
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 11:35 AM
Subject: Nothing Survives at Elands Bay Seal Colony, Seal Alert-SA Thanks the SPCA,
Seal Alert-SA Press Release, 8 January 2008
Nothing Survives at
Elands Bay Seal Colony, Seal Alert-SA Thanks the
SPCA,
for Assisting in
Preventing Extinction of this Seal Colony
from an endangered seal breeding colony
to extinction within three months at South Africa's only public
accessible un-protected land-based seal colony
Seal Alert-SA
refers to the article published in the Cape Times today (see
below). Allan Perrins CEO of Cape of Good Hope SPCA and Linda
Bredenkamp are to be commended for their constructive public appeal
and pro-active stance which calls for this cultural
significant breeding seal colony, and the only public
accessible colony in South Africa, to receive immediate protection
via fencing, sign-boards, security and a properly controlled
tourist viewing platform. We do so for the penguins, its high time
the state, looks after its seal population
properly.
For the past
eight years, Seal Alert-SA has had to bear witness to man-kind's
encroachment on our natural marine environment at the seal colony
at Elands Bay. A seal colony that is the oldest known, dating back
some 100 000 years. It has witnessed first-hand how a small colony
of seals has tried to survive, only to suffer terrible abuse,
harassment, shooting, clubbing and forced abandonment of its
new-born. We have over the years brought this to MCM's attention
and nationally via programs on SABC.
We have also successful rescued a few baby
seal pups over the years, but this is not the
answer.
Each seal
breeding season (November - December). This seal colony, each year
tries to survive. By each March, three months later, either the
entire colony has died, been killed or fled. From constant abuse
and harassment from the public. On a breeding colony, seal activity
is year round, with new-born babies taking months to learn to swim,
suckling constantly until weaned over the next 12 months. They are
dependent upon their colony during the entire year. Nothing
survives at Elands Bay, after March. Its extinction, is repeated,
year after year.
Marine and Coastal
Management Derelict,
and guilty of
concealing true cause of seal Deaths
Seal
Alert-SA would like to set the record straight. We in no way
believe that the SPCA is involved in any conspiracy to conceal the
true nature of the seal deaths. We make this very clear. We do
believe MCM is guilty of an attempt to conceal the true nature of
these seal deaths. Our proof, is that a member of public,
previously recovered bullet shell casings next to shot seals, and
made a sworn affidavit with police, an inspector from MCM was
caught on camera "removing the evidence" of the strangled seal
baby. Another inspector has admitted that he knows people come to
Elands Bay to shoot and kill seals. Over the years, MCM has not
conducted any investigation or clean-up, leaving these seals to rot
in the rocks. I have seen and filmed numerous seals shot and seen
baby seal skulls crushed in. Clearly indicating they were clubbed
or stoned to death. Our evidence relates to 8 years of witnessing
this criminal activity.
At any of our other seal colonies, it is
prohibited from going onto the seal colony or island. In fact,
under the Sea Birds and Seals Protection Act dating back to 1973,
it is a criminal offence to disturb, harass, capture or kill a
seal. Yet, at Elands Bay there is nothing. Therefore MCM is
derelict in its appointed responsibility.
A few kilometres further up the west
coast, MCM has a policy which involves employing sharp-shooters to
kill seals and beating seals with whips to drive them off a colony
at Lambert's Bay. This is publicly well known and promoted by Cape
Nature Conservation. This does not send a positive message, and
clearly sets a precedent, that others can do similar, and get away
with it. Thousands of fishermen shot and kill seals, and none are
prosecuted.
Seal Alert-SA therefore demands that
Theressa Frantz at Marine and Coastal Management under whom the
responsibility of seal management forms, act immediately to address
the protection of this seal colony. Placing additional MCM
inspectors in the area over November/December is not the answer, as
the colony is active year round due to the nature of the nursing of
seal pups.
Fully enclosed fencing, with
information sign-boards, a properly controlled public-viewing
platform is the absolute minimum protection required for this
unique seal colony site.
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
27-21-790 8774
