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
