and Dutch offers come-in.
From: Seal Alert-SA
Date: February 16, 2007
Dear All Cape Fur Seal Supporters,
Things have been hectic, hectic. Paul Watson's efforts and the team at Seashepherd have been a true inspiration, fighting for the Whales in the icy Antarctica. They all did and said everything, perfectly.
At the centre, I have been battling to get the weanlings rescued that fled from the sealers in Namibia, to self survive, but one by one, we are slowly getting them back on their flippers and hunting. One pup, has decided to be the centre's guard-seal, and stations himself at night outside, protecting the premises, before coming in each morning on my arrival.
Our Seal-Guard
We are now at day 90, in
the three baby seals rehab. 275 days to go, to achieving our goal
of a world first, group baby Cape fur seal rehab. Our vet Bruce,
recommended adding B6 to their diet, and there has been a
tremendous improvement in their weight, health - in fact we are
raising little monsters. Omega has bonded deeply with me, and
although the other two are not fully bonded (which could pose
problems on their release in the wild), they are suckling on my
skin and accept my scent. JT answers my call, but Alpha refuses. I
am extremely positive that we will achieve our goal. There is an
incredible bond developing between all three and it will be so
exciting to watch their development in the wild, together. Although
from different colonies, they are fully united. Mumkin, unlike the
other babies rehabbed has not left for his seven month disappearing
act in the wild, like the other pups around mid-January. I suspect,
he is waiting for me to take him out to the deep sea hunting
grounds on the jetski, which I have not done, as I was
concentrating on the Namibian culling issue this year. Popeye is
nowhere to be seen, but our first baby, now 5-years old, already a
big bull, pops in frequently.
JT, Alpha and Omega
Initially I
thought JT might be a little girl, but on Tuesday a couple found a
little seal pop its head out of the surf, looking very confused,
cold and weak. This little seal clearly a little lady, must have
washed off the False Bay colony, swam through white shark
patrolling waters, the 7 kilometres to the beach, how long she
survived on her own is unknown, but she was about 50% underweight.
I promised one of our Dutch supporters, I would name a seal after
him, although a lady, I have decided to name her Eddy, in his
honour. Our family has now grown to four.
Eddy
I
am looking forward, and hope the results are positive with the
meeting on the 21st with the Deputy Director of MCM. Very little
additional work on the centre has taken place, as the next phase
requires large amounts. Instead, I had to re-do and re-paint their
pool and re-plaster the second pool. In addition, I have stripped
our three-seater jertski, for a respray, and to get it ready for
the pups phase two in the wild.
Anjo of our Dutch website
www.sealalert.org has been hard at work,
and the Seal film done by Edward Snijders "Seals for Real" film
continues to win awards, and his has been nominated for the Moscow
Film Festival. Thanks again to Anjo,
So although, we still have to apply
and it will take some time and it is not certain we will be
granted, 2007 is off to a good start. If that was not positive
enough, Seal Alert-SA had promised to help Chairperson Marianne
Thieme of the Partj voor De Dieren in the Netherlands win some
seats, and true to her word, she asked questions in Parliament
about the Namibian seal slaughter/cull (see below)
A question from
Marianne, again in Dutch. Our Dutch minister of Agriculture says
that only 2 species of seals are used for their "products", all
other species are protected. We need proof that the Cape Fur Seals
are also used for their fur etc. so Marianne can come up with
evidence.
She had a
wonderful speech about the plight of the Cape Fur Seals. She has
sent me this. But unfortunately, again all in Dutch. You can read
it at this URL:
www.partijvoordedieren.nl/download/2ekamer/20070206PvdDzeehonden.pdf.
Cape Cross Namibian Baby Slaughter
fields
Then I received this, "First reaction that
came in after the item of Seal Alert was broadcasted on national tv
here in the Netherlands. Already answered this woman, but I
wanted you to know. Several millions of Dutch have watched
this, can't thank Edward Snijders enough. This viewer forward us
some pics, and described in chilling detail, how she witnessed the
truck leaving with the dripping dead bloody baby seal carcases,
hidden under a canvas-top, depart the baby seal clubbing fields in
Namibia. After sweeping the bloodied killing field/beach over to
conceal the blood, and open the gate for tourists to pay their
money, to view Namibia's seal wildlife splendour.
What the pic on the right proves, is that
the clubbing of these 8-month old baby nursing seals, is not
controlled or limited to just a particular age. The blood holes
should all ly in a straight gauntlet type-line. This proves that
sealers rounded up a group of seals, cows, bulls, sub-adults, pups
and babies (because they are impossible to separate) -
allowing none to escape, (although the quota is only for pups), and
clubbed the entire group to death, in front of each
other.
and we have a
new addition to our centre, a large bull, very weak and thin, with
a head injury that appears to have been caused by a boat propeller.
This is one of the reasons, Seal Alert-SA conducts its research and
rescue on Jet-Ski's, thereby ensuring no seals get mistakenly
injured. Yet, Marine and Coastal Management bans jetski's >from
Marine Protected Areas but allows out-board motors and un-protected
propellers freely into these protected wildlife areas.
I hope I have covered most things happening.
Will keep you informed, and will report back on our meeting with
MCM.
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
27-21-790 8774