From: sasealion@wam.co.za
Subject: We Have To Stop Clubbing Cape Fur Seals !
Date: November 12, 2006
We Have to Stop Clubbing Cape Fur Seals !
A suspected clubbed seal arrives blinded and confused
Eleanor Momberg of the Sunday Independent reports, "Seals
Fleeing Namibian Cull Wash up on SA Coast"
http://www.sundayindependent.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3532518.
As the 2006,
Namibian Seal Clubbing season draws to a close on November 15
involving over 75% of the seal species, Seal Alert-SA is still left
dealing with the after-shock. Physical damage to these seals that
will go on long after.
Over 600 000
seals are affected physically by this slaughter, with 85 000 babies
being clubbed, and tens of thousands of seals of all age groups
fleeing for their lives away from their natal birth colonies. Many
will now die and suffer as a result of man's intrusion into their
wildlife.
One such
lucky rescued seal, from thousands that disappeared without trace.
Tell us all a story, why we must please ensure that clubbing them
stops. It can honestly, in a civilised world go on, no longer.
Sealing in Namibia must end.
Last Saturday, I received a frantic call from a member of the
public. "There is a baby seal falling all over the rocks". Unable
to physically respond as I was already dealing with a baby pup
rescued minutes earlier, I asked if they would be prepared to risk
getting bitten and attempt to transport him to Hout Bay, 20 minutes
drive away. Expecting a baby weanling aged 10 months, the clear
majority of starving pups stranding, I was a little shocked to
receive a 2 to 3 year seal as I opened the boot of the car.
Eyes
closed, totally confused and utterly helpless this "hated fish
eating seal", although completely wild, posed no threat of attack
or biting, but just simply pleaded for someone to take careful care
of him during his hour of need. Like a new-born baby I pick him up
and when I put him down, tucked in, in complete trust.
Upon
examination I could discern nothing physical wrong. He was in good
health, although shivering cold, empty stomach and apparently
completely blind. Donna, a reporter from Namibia has indicated that
fishermen in Namibia are known to throw somesort of powder at the
seals at sea, which causes them to go blind. Although I suspect
this victim, was as a direct result of the wild clubbing currently
taking place in Namibia. I further suspected since being clubbed
1600 km away, this seal fled into the icy seas and drifted blindly
for days or weeks, which probably helped reduce his swelling,
although there appears to be a slight bump above his forehead.
What he must have gone through, blinded and confused, only he will
know - and tens of thousands like him.
Seeking not
refuge on rock, island or amongst his own kind, he chose the
protection of man, his clubbers.
Immediately
I was at a loss with what to do with him. He needed the sea, but
could not be placed on my raft as he had no control over his
movement. I decided to take him home. He was like jelly in my
hands. Is this the type of marine creature we walk up to and club?
Is this termed a fair hunt and chase, or is this just sick?
For the next few
hours I pried open his jaws and inserted pilchards one by one into
his mouth. He was exhausted and I needed to prop him up as I feed
him. For the next three days this continued, not a sign of physical
active life. Although he urinated, his did no stools indicating his
stomach and intestines were completely empty. Slowly he recovered
and could stand on all four flippers, unaided. Tons of love,
rubbing and massaging, has developed a deep trusting bond. Whilst
initially bumping into everything, even the wall. He now appeared
to guide his way by my scent and voice.
I rigged up an
observation pool, where he now spends almost the entire day. He is
now eating close to 8kg of pilchards a day. Although I have only
known him a few days, and he is as wild as can be, there is this
incredible bond of trust and togetherness from both sides. He is
recovering and improving, and I am hopeful that he will regain his
sight.
As he regains his senses, he is becoming more alert, and as he does
so, he feels more vulnerable. Even the wind in the trees frighten
him, or a bird flying over head. In fear and insecurity, he dashes
into the kitchen and lays down by my feet. Where-ever I move, he
moves.
Whilst I shared
this past week with this wild seal. The thought just keeps
repeating, do we have the right to club 85 000 of them every year?
Once knowing these highly intelligent creatures, clubbing them is
akin to raping a human baby. People who support or do this, crime
against nature must be stopped.
In a few days, I
hope to try and introduce him to the raft, the sea, and the other
seals, and hope, he has sufficient senses of smell and sound, to
carve out a new place for himself, in our world. In a world in
amongst all this madness, that offers these seals a little hope and
protection. This world of boats, wetsuits, jetski's, vehicles and
rafts you have all helped create.
Lets end this Namibian Sealing
together, before the season starts again in July 2007.
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
PS - These websites all contain a little more info.
http://www.sealalertsa.net/namibia_2006.htm
http:// www.actionagainstpoisoning.com/page2/page154.html also
http://www.canadianvoiceforanimals.org/ and
www.seashepherd.org