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Press Release
Seal Alert-SA, 31 October 2006.
 

Baby Seals flee Namibian Sealers to South Africa and Angola

Thousands of Namibian nursing fleeing baby seal pups makes landfall in South Africa - whilst he slowly starves to death alone
 

         Like Donna Collins (reporter in Namibia) recent remarks and enclosed pic, all the print media in Namibia have carried similar stories, the Windhoek Observer, The Namibian, New Era, The Economist and the Informante. All seek answers as to why the Namibian seals were in July considered officially healthy, thriving and over-populated and in need of culling, that allowed Namibia to issue the highest cull (genocidal) quota of 85 000 nursing baby seals in birthing breeding grounds. A practice banned throughout the world since 1983. When just three months later, sealers are burying 900 pups a day and pup growth normally at 30 grams/day had been recorded in 2006, as 2 grams/day. Slowly reports started coming in of seals stranding and dying of starvation. Soon even the Namibian Ministry acknowledged that pups born will not survive weaning age (October/November). Sealers themselves admitted that sealing has ended one month earlier, "as there are just not any more pups" to (club and kill)

       So why is Namibia sealing?
 
       Here is what two reporters in Namibia are saying, Donna Collins, "The seal cull together with the untimely mass death of starving seals, must be ranked as one of the country's largest wildlife tragedies. And the sight of Namibia's Cape Fur seals starving to death each day is beyond words. I have witnessed the despair and helplessness of these creatures, who crawl ashore or onto rocks where they collapse and die - too weak, too emaciated and too ill to continue the fight for survival. Every day I go to a place where granite boulders form a small harbour at Swakopmund's popular Mole beach, only to see the dead bodies from the day before. Some have fallen between the cracks, other's are still lying on the rocks - dead, or scattered onto the beach below. Some are huddled together where they died in
comfort of each others bodies, but many are alone. They are all painfully thin, desperately sick and clearly victims of the most inhumane suffering that has been bestowed upon them. In my opinion the Namibian authorities, scientists and fisheries boffins have treated the seals worse than vermin - stripped them of their dignity and right to life. But still, the suffering continues, and the world stands by and watches while this marine mammal is not so slowly being reduced to rotting corpses along our coastline".

      The respected Namibian Economist Editor's theory, http://www.economist.com.na/27%20Oct/27%20Oct.htm.
 
      Theories of El Nino, Seal Migration north and Over-fishing, all have some truth, but the bottom-line, hidden in a veil of scientific babble, is that sadistic Namibian sealers are clubbed their way to this species extinction.
 
      Consider the facts : Although this mass starvation of seals is now in the media, it is not the first such event. We know it occurred in 1988, a big one in 1994, 1995 and 1996. 2000 was bigger, and 2001 and now again in 2006. 7-times in the last 18 years, Namibia has hidden the reason why it allows one third to one half of its indigenous protected seals found nowhere else on earth to pitifully starve to death from hunger - each time, during and after sealing season has ended.
 
      Namibian Fisheries Minister knew pups were growing at only 2 grams/day and would not survive. Under the constitution sealing should only be applied to 30% of the population, if the claim is sustainable. Yet, these mass death's since 1988, has reduced the seal population in 2006, down to 1982 levels. Concerned that seals would once again litter the beaches with their dead carcases, Namibia issued a 100% genocidal cull. Its purpose to conceal the fact that the seal population is not thriving.
 
     Is the reason lack of fish or are these just victims dying that have escaped the club welding sealers?
 
     So why are so many seals suddenly dying now ? 75% of the Namibian seal population occurs on two unnatural mainland seal colonies. From July to November, everyday, for the next 150 days, groups of sealers will charge into 300 000 wild seals in their attempts to smash the heads of 600 nursing baby seals each day. The result the entire colony of seals flee, causing widespread massive disturbance. Nursing pups still suckling on mother's milk and who pose no threat to fisheries, are separated from their mothers, and flee, north and south. Within three months the seal colonies have become completely deserted, seals have fled this crime against nature, this genocide.
 
    Thousands of these pups, still unweaned, flee and drift south. Many die at sea and sink to the bottom. Forgotten victims. A few survivors reach South African shores, where an even more un-informed public, harasses and disturbs these frightened marine creatures. Stress from these constant disturbances and inability to properly self survive, causes these pups to convult violently and die from starvation. A criminal offence anywhere in the world, but not when it comes to Cape fur seals.
 
    Whilst the seals slowly starve to death from separation. Scientist sickenly claim, "well they are going to die anyway, why not club the weak to death". If this were true - why then do sealers bury 900 pups a day and still club their quota?
 
    Namibian sealers have turned Namibia into an ugly blood soaked, rotten corpse of dead and dying seals - ultimately the civilised world will judge harshly, just like Namibians do their seals.
 
    Sadly for the seal pups there is no solution. Islands off South Africa are banned to them. Existing awash rock seal colonies are overcrowded, the result, these pups are forced to strand, be harassed, as they slowly starve to death in their thousands on our public beaches.
 
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
021-790 8774 

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October 16, 2006 - Seal Alert-SA

Dear All Cape Fur Seal Supporters,

 
Starving male and female adult Cape fur seals dying en-mass
 

      Starving dying endangered Cape fur seals need our international help.

Please pass this email on.
See The Namibian Newspaper article, www.namibian.com.na/2006/October/national.
 
      Founder of Seal Alert-SA, Francois Hugo makes a desperate international plea to help save these seals.
 
      Supporters of the two largest conservation organizations have received the following, when asking for these organizations to help.
 
      From International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW-SA) Thank you for your inquiry.  
IFAW does actively oppose the Namibian Seal Cull.  
See the following link for more information: www.ifaw.org .
If you have any further questions, please contact us.
Sincerely, Laurie Wilson Supporter Relations Manager International Fund for Animal Welfare.
 
      From WWF-SA, Thank you for writing back and following through on your concern.
I know that similar events in Norway and Canada have not affected fur seal populations.
So, for these 2 countries, we usually suggest the animal cruelty organisations as they really are much better at this type of campaigning and significantly more focussed on these sorts of issues.
However, I don't have specific information about the fur seals off the South African coast.
So, if you really feel that the numbers are being affected please don't hesitate to write to our staff in the local National offices as they will be most informed about the reality of the situation.
It is also the national offices who monitor these types of concerns and make priority decisions about their areas. www.panda.org/
hern_africa/index.cfm .I really hope that this helps but if you are unable to make contact please write back and I will try and help you further. Jackie Janosi
WWF International Online Team.
 
     The Namibian Ministry has been using its Sealing Industry to cover-up is 7th mass die-off of its indigenous and endangered Cape fur seals.
Since its independence in 1990, its been increasing its seal cull quota, to hide the evidence of mass seal starvation, in 1990, the sealing quota was 3000. In 2006, the sealing quota is 85 000 (the largest on record).
 
     Faced with either admitting its seals are starving, and with it the evidence, it prefers to adopt a policy of seal culling (clubbing weak and dying nursing pups in birthing grounds) to conceal instead, the dead and dying.
To which the European Union has been eager to acquire these baby nursing pelts, since the remaining sealing countries of Canada, Norway, Greenland and Russia banned the practice of slaughter nursing baby seals in 1987.
 
     The Cape fur seal population has declined over 50% in the last decade (and still no international alarm bells ring).
 
     Scientists, government officials and leading conservation organizations on both sides of the border (South Africa and Namibia), are attempting to downplay this 7th mass die-ff as a species over-populated and that is correcting itself every four years.
 
     Seal Alert-SA believes this is an international conservation fraud of the highest criminality.
The current seal population is down to its 1982 levels in 2006. Based on average pup densities on existing colonies, the Cape fur seal population in pristine pre-exploited periods, would have numbered in excess of 11 million seals.
The highest peak of this population of 324 000 pups or 1.3 million seals in 1993, is a far cry, from being near over-populated.
Since this peak, the seals have endured mass die-offs from starvation, in 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001 and now in 2006.
Where between one half and one third died in each incident.
 
     With over 1000 ha protected for seals on offshore islands, extinction on 99%, clearly points to a seal population in severe trouble.
 
     Although listed as an endangered Appendix II CITES species,
CITES continually allows the international trade, even when the Namibian sealers export 117 000 skins on a 60 000 quota in 2000 (another year of mass starvation).
 
    Either we save them, or we lose them.
The abuse and cruelty, and inhumanness displayed by all is a travesty.
Not even non-endangered, non-indigenous domesticated dogs, would be allowed to starve in their hundreds of thousands, but here in Africa - protected seals can.
 
    Is this what wildlife conservation has become, fraud, cover-ups and blame the weather - shameful.
When a species of marine mammal is dying right before our eyes, and instead of offering to help, we further condemn them as over-populated.
 
    Namibia end your sealing policy, now. You have been exposed, for the 7th time.
 
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
27-21-790 8774


From: sasealion@wam.co.za
Subject: The "Mighty" Seal Supporters - You are just Great !
Dear Cape fur seal supporters,
 
         Although it appears we number only a few hundred, we are ALL indeed the 'mighty' few. This week closed on a high tone, and a low one, which I thought I would share.

Mumkin centre, and four of the 8 weanlings rescued these past two weeks.

        I was called to rescue a seal caught in a trawl net and which had been left to starve to death in the blazing sun for over a week and a half, by the skipper. Whilst this was going on, a 10day into rehab weanling rescued was dipping, and was close to death. Sadly he died.
 
        Nikki in Cape Town sprang into action and blasted the CEO of this, the largest fishing company in South Africa. Immediately there was a high-level enquiry, fleet managers arrived and statements taken.

        The end result was this -
Just had a call from Des .... Des.... someone or the other from Oceana to tell me what the conclusion was on the case.
 
Apparently, he was given a final warning, and any breach (in regards to the seals) will result in an immediate termination of his contract. He must also take action against his crew as it was determined the crew knew about the seal.
 
Oceana is calling a meeting on discussing training in dealing with seals, with the skippers and tight control will be kept on policies and procedures.
 
He also mentioned that you ("Oh? Is Francois the guy who was on 50/50? The blonde man who they call the Sealman?") will be called should a seal need your help and that they will make use of your services, and that all skippers and crew must call you when they have a problem with seals.
 
      These companies deploy over 65 000 trawl nets, where between 1-25 seals get trapped and drowned annual. So this is indeed, a very positive development. Skippers which earn over 200 000, are now terrified, if they get caught again will lose their jobs. Well done Nikki.
 
      Over the past two weeks, I have responded to a sudden flood of weanlings, like Mumkin, bone thin coming ashore, exactly the same that is happening in Namibia. I suspect that these a baby seals, separated from the mothers and have fled 1000 km to South Africa. After 10 days I lost one, after two weeks I have saved 6 more and are doing well. Another weanling already convulting on the beach was hurriedly brought to me,only to die in my arms within two minutes. Two dead, 6 alive, with one still under intensive care abroad our Spirit of Seal Supporters pup rescue boat.
 
     Then a sub-adult arrived savaged by a great white, biting his hind flippers smashing at least four bones and his front flipper. Shocked, weak and in great pain, he has responded well.
 

Shark attacked seal

      Last Sunday, Paul reported German Parliament had just banned ALL Seal products, who will preside over the European Union in early 2007. I needed confirmation that Cape fur seals would be included. Immediately seal supporters swung into action, Marcela and Elizabeth forwarded me press releases, from these we traced that Barbel Hohn from the German Green Party was behind the ban (how I love our worldwide network and the internet). Nikki and Herbert of Seashepherd then made contact direct, and today we have confirmation Cape fur seals are included (see attached), as well as ALL seals. With Germany to head the EU in 2007, could we all send a thank you to Jens Kendzia and Baerbel Hohn at the eaddress below - I would really appreciate it ( Nikki was once again fantastic)
 
     From: "Jens Kendzia" baerbel.hoehn.ma02@bundestag.de
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 3:20 PM
Subject: German seal ban - parliamentary motion.pdf


Dear Nikki Botha,

attached to this mail you will find the motion that the German House of Representatives ("Bundestag") adopted on October the 19th. Under subsection "II." it says:

"The German Bundestag demands of the Federal Government - to press for a ban of the importation of and trade with products *of all kinds of seals *(in German "aller Robbenarten") throughout the European Union - as long as such a European ban is not achieved, to effectively interdict the importation of, fabrication of and trade with seal products in Germany."
Yours
Jens Kendzia
 
      With support like this from you ALL, I know we will shut down the Namibian Seal Slaughter before it starts again in July 2007. So dear Seal Supporters, you ALL have made me one proud to know you, Seal-Man. Sadly when we started this year with saving the babies, we lost 7, Mumkin being the sole survivor. With these latest babies, although we did not raise them from birth, we have still, saved what we started from this years baby seals, plus another 400 seals. For everything each one of you have done, you have my deepest and sincerest thanks.

       Donna of Namibian, produced another fine article in Namibian newspaper, as well as Lorna getting a great letter publishe www.namibian.com.na/2006/October/letters/0653D9728A.html

 
        And then today, I opened my mail, and there was a letter from Earle. Charles a young lad from Dubai, who sponsored the saving of a seal on his 13th Birthday, has sent 110 Canadian dollars, with a note, "Here is 15% of my 2006 money total. I believe that one day the battle will be won !"
 
       Indeed Charles, with you on the seals side, we cant lose.
 
Thank you all.
 
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA