Dear All, we the public are not paying MCM to deceive us - Francois. Fence off the Seal Colony ! -
----- Original Message -----
From: Sealalert
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 5:18 PM
Subject: Something Very Wrong in the Management of Cape Fur Seals in Southern Africa
Dear All Cape Fur Seal Supporters,
Something Very Wrong
in the Management of Cape Fur Seals in Southern
Africa
Seal pup strangled to death amongst 100
plus other seals found dead at Elands Bay, mainland seal
colony
After a decade (10
years) of trying to conserve and protect this species of endangered
Cape fur seals in two countries. I can honestly tell you something
is seriously wrong with the current management of the authorities
with this species. Why they continue to do so, eludes me, but it is
there in every aspect of their management? It is bad enough dealing
with overfishing, seal entanglement, mass washing ashore of seals,
clubbing in Namibia, Trophy hunting of seals, mass starvation, live
seal exports, rescue, trawler net seal drownings, gun carrying
murdering fishermen, but all this pales into insignificance, when
dealing with authorities tasked with our tax-paying money to
protect and conserve this species.
Are they just plain incompetent, could not care
less or is there something always more sinister at
play?
The above
article and the incident referred to within, is just another
classic example. There are 5 key words, "No foul play", "SPCA",
"John Spence of Marine and Coastal Management", "too
decomposed" and "1000 dead seal pups not uncommon".
With Theressa Akkers/Frantz Director of
Offshore Fisheries and tasked with protecting Cape Fur Seals at the
Department of Marine and Coastal Management, when it comes to
seals, there is always "no foul play" and every seal's death is
natural. Never caused by them or their mismanagement or their
permitted fishermen. And, you know when MCM calls in the SPCA they
are in a tight spot in the public eye, and use the SPCA to dig
themselves out of the tight hole.
This is the
truth of the matter. On New Years day a tourist from Canada came
across 100 plus seals all dead at a colony on our west coast.
Whilst this number is nothing compared to the tens of thousands
slaughtered legally and illegally, it does illustrate reality of
the seal situation. He fell to his knees crying. He found a new
born pup with a rope tied around its neck in a slip-knot, with the
other end tied to a rock which resulted in the pup being unable to
free itself and therefore strangled itself. A very sick and cruel
way to die for such a few days old new born pup. Others had trails
of flesh blood pouring out, other seals were decomposing and other
carcasses were freshly killed or dead.
He reported this to the newspaper, the picture
of strangled pup was published and MCM quickly swung in gear with
denial, once it had now gone public. Straight away MCM made out as
if this was new to them and immediately stated that the seal deaths
were natural, even though the colony is situated over 250
kilometres from their offices. But, the public persisted and did
not accept this official nonsense.
Seal Alert-SA unable
to go due to our rescue commitments, asked a film-maker to go
instead. Whilst filming, along comes a conservation official from
the Department. He informs the film-maker he is looking for the
black baby seal pups. Why? Clearly sent with instructions to find
only the strangled baby seal with orders to remove just the rope,
and thereby conceal this very unnatural death and its evidence.
Which he proceeded to do just that, and caught on camera in the
act.
Then to complete the cover-up, even the very
existence of this, the only land based public access seal
colony is discarded - claims are now made that rough seas washed
these seals ashore and that no actual seal colony exists. Comments
to support this are made that tells of 1000 a day washing ashore at
other places. Even though there was plenty of flesh carcasses
for a post-mortem, officially they were all suddenly too
decomposed. No cracked skulls of seal pups was suddenly found, all
had disappeared or officially never existed, and naturally no seals
had been shot. Case closed, public uproar quashed! To end the
story, lime and a clean-up operation using the City Council Refuse
Department to cart away these crimes against nature.
The Seal Protection Act dating back to 1973
states it is a criminal offence to disturb, harass, capture or
kill a seal. No police docket is opened, no enquiry, all just
another day in a dead seal life. All natural, naturally.
Seal Alert-SA's attention was first drawn to
this colony in 2000 (8 years ago) when a lady
reported she had found more than 26 killed seals, with
many shot, and even recovering .22mm bullet shell casings lying
amongst the dead shot seals. She made a sworn affidavit at the
police station (see below copy), and handed me the shell casings.
She reported it to inspector John Spence of Marine and Coastal
Management (remember the name above), when at the time, he informed
her, he knew that people came and shot and killed seals at this
colony, but that it was very difficult to catch them. He remarked
that the crayfish factory alongside considers the seals pests.
So clearly MCM is well aware of these illegal shootings and
clubbings, so why deny it? Even worse, why go to such great lengths
using our taxpayers money to conceal it further.
The Argus and Cape Times reporters were given
this Affidavit and recent photographs, but to date ignored all this
public evidence.
Every year since
2000, I have visited this seal colony, as you all know well, Mumkin
is one of the baby pups rescued from this sick situation. Ever year
between November and Christmas time/New Year the exact same sick
carnage confronts anyone who parks his vehicle and walks the few
metres down to this mainland based seal colony. Hundreds of
seal corpses lay scattered around, heads bashed in, bleeding and
rotting away. No clean-up or removal is ever undertaken, until the
newspaper report. Complete disregard over the years, is all to
evident. There is clearly illegal activity involved in these seal
death's, anyone who goes there sees it. But, yes equally some seals
have died from natural causes, if you can call starvation of a
supposedly thriving seal population - natural. But, what is the
most common, and most disturbing is the majority presence of
new-born baby dead seals.
This is what is truly
sickening, for as anybody in seal management knows, these pups
which cannot swim for first few weeks, are dependent on dry-land
and are nursed for up to 12 months. Are in fact locked onto this
tiny piece of coastline for survival. It becomes their living
nightmare. They cannot swim away and also cannot leave the waters
edge. In addition, due to increased overfishing their mothers are
forced to spend longer and longer periods at sea foraging, for days
away on end, leaving these defenceless seal pups completely
vulnerable (with no protection from mom or even teeth) to be
approached, picked up, kicked, clubbed, tied-up or harassed and
chased in any way. The terror in these seal pups is clearly
evident, accumulated via constant harassment via any member of the
public day or night, good intention or not, intoxicated or sober.
Gun in hand, club or camera.
Many crawl into small caves in a desperate attempt to
hide away, until mom returns. With many mother's giving up from the
constant harassment, never returning, leaving the pup to slowly
starve to death over agonizing days. Where seagulls will eventually
start pecking away at its soft eyeballs, as it nears its weak end.
This dear Seal Supporters is not natural death or no foul
play.
I have photographed this colony each year since 2000,
with even in December 2004, SABC's 50/50 wildlife program showing
extensive footage of this carnage in that year, again nationally
for all to see. What did MCM do then or any other year - nothing?
So why now?
Why is this all so wrong, and why is MCM so derelict.
Because simply, this colony is situated next to a dirt road leading
to the surfing/fishing/holiday town of Elands Bay. Passing vehicle
traffic is constant. What increases the danger and abuse, is that
motorists stop directly opposite to visit the famous bushman caves,
directly opposite the seal colony, as this cave has some of the
oldest bushman paintings discovered. Equally too, archaeologists
have discovered that the Bushman used seal-pups for food, with
their bones discovered dating back 100 000 years. Making this seal
colony the oldest known seal colony, dating back 100 000
years.
Instead of the authorities fencing this area
off, putting up informative sign-boards and have a seal viewing
platform over the seal colony that is controlled, and even
charging tourists a fee to assist the local community and undertake
seal research and conservation. To prevent all this carnage. This
unique cultural heritage site, is left open and abandoned in
complete darkness, even at night. Yet, this is the only public
accessible site to view a seal colony in the whole of South Africa.
Which in itself presents are lucrative opportunity, and significant
attraction already, much the same as has been developed in Hout
Bay, earning millions annually. But, just like Hout Bay developed
privately, no doubt MCM will fail to see the true value in seals,
who are not better off dead. And, once again completely ignore the
issue, choosing instead for seals to rather be abused and killed,
and using our money to cover-up their mismanagement, year after
year, after year. Is their hatred for seals so intense, they cannot
see the light?
But each March, each year, the seal colony is
completely erradicated and is no more. No seal pups ever survive.
No rescue (besides Seal Alert-SA) is ever attempted.
I must add that I in noway see the SPCA as being
responsible. Linda Bredenkamp has only been with the SPCA for 3
months and has no seal experience, nor should she or her
organization be expected to deal with clubbed, shot or reasons why
marine mammals (seals) died. This is the task of MCM or better
still Seal Alert-SA, but with zero co-operation between the two,
with MCM preferring to hide their mismanagement behind the SPCA. So
good are these people at MCM in deceiving the public, that the
public never questions why SPCA is involved at all, if a whale,
dolphin, seabird shark or fish washes ashore MCM does not call in
the SPCA, it sends its own personnel. But, clearly in the case with
seals, the public no longer believes them.
See the reply from the SPCA, to my constructive
offer, and once again within MCM it will fall on deaf ears, with
not even the decency of a reply.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda Bredenkamp" <</span>bredenkamp@tiscali.co.za>
To: "'Sealalert'" <</span>sasealion@wam.co.za>;
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 1:27 PM
Subject: RE: Elands Bay Statement
Dear Francois
Thanks for your phone call this morning - it was very interesting
and useful to get more background on the history aound this seal
colony. Thanks also for putting your constructive suggestions on a
way forward in writing as suggested. In my personal view this seems
to be a sensible way forward and would be something worth
pursuing.
Let's talk further after we have feedback from other
roleplayers.
Thanks and best wishes
Linda Bredenkamp
-----Original Message-----
From: Sealalert
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 10:43 AM
To spca@polka.co.za
Cc: Theressa Akkers; spca@polka.co.za;
Beryl Batties; Mike Meyer; Herman Oosthuizen; Risha Sewmangal
Persad; Radia Razack; mmayekiso@deat.gov.za;
ceo@spca-ct.co.za;
liaison@nspca.co.za;
bredenkamp@tiscali.co.za
Subject: Re: Elands Bay Statement
Dear All, and especially Theressa Akkers,
Seal Alert-SA's attention was first drawn to this colony in 2000.
When a member of the public reported over 26 dead seals, some shot
and even recovered .22 shell casings. MCM inspectors are well aware
illegal seal shooting and killing takes place (see attached sworn
affidavit). To deny same is foolhardy. Since I have visited this
colony annually, where each year approximately 200 plus seals die
and are killed (November - December).
Its a grave-yard of seals. Their carcasses lying rotting for weeks
and months, each year. Many seals have been shot and clubbed with
broken skulls.
A program in December 2004 on 50/50 showed extensive footage of the
deaths in 2004. By each March this small colony is completely
deserted or eradicated.
Clearly all this is illegal under the Seal Protection Act, and MCM
is derelict in its duty for ignoring it, year after year.
So what is going on at Elands Bay? Numerous yearling/weanling
pups are found clearly starving and many die from starvation. Large
seals are well, are also found dead in good condition. Females or
nursing seals are also clearly starving. A number of pups are born
there. Without doubt there is a constant element of illegal abuse
and disturbance. The rope around the pup's neck and the shot seals
are all examples. Ultimately due to its un-protected location and
isolation on a dirt road, the ability for any passing motorist on
the way to Elands Bay can stop and proceed to walk amongst the
seals, causing massive disturbance of the whole colony, if not
physical abuse. Cows to separate from pups, pups becoming abandoned
and then starving to death.
Which increases the overall mortality at this colony.
These wild seals are completely vulnerable to disturbance and
abuse, as the pups are dependent on nursing for up to 12 months
(completely unprotected at times with the cows at sea
foraging)
Solution. What is suggested is this. Stop having a media tug of war
about whether the deaths were natural or not. Both answers are
correct, and yes some may even be dying from disease or the like.
MCM has a duty to
protect the species. The bushman cave above is significant
culturally for its paintings as well as the archaeological findings
has dated the seal bones used to nearly 100 000 years old.
This therefore presents a unique opportunity. The west coast
fishing community is clearly suffering declining fish stocks. This
colony is therefore the oldest known seal colony in southern
Africa, Culturally significant once again, and importantly it is
the only land-based colony in South Africa that tourists can view
seal on a land-based colony to which a thriving eco-tourism
activity can be created.
It is further suggested that this small colony, is fenced off
around its perimeter, with signage, a viewing area built, to which
a fee could be charged to tourists. Income generated could then be
used for further seal conservation research and protection, whilst
creating income for the community.
Hout Bay has a thriving eco-tourism seal viewing industry worth
millions, catering for seal island viewing, informal traders and
the like, a similar concept is suggested.
Could I have all's commitment to attempt to put this in reality
before the start of next year's pupping season.
Alternative Seal Alert-SA will continue to document and expose,
year after year, the illegal seal abuse and killing at Elands
Bay.
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA