For years now, Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA in South Africa has been working to stop the massacring of the Namibian Cape fur seal pups for their fur. In 2009, in response to Mr. Hugo’s brave campaign to purchase the industry outright in an effort to halt what has become the world’s second largest commercial
seal hunt, Supreme Master Ching Hai donated US$200,000 toward Seal Alert-SA’s endeavors while honoring Mr. Hugo with the Shining World Compassion Award for his protection of the diminishing Cape fur seals, whose orphaned pups he personally raises.

Recently, he wrote a letter to Supreme Master Ching Hai to report some of his work’s fruitful results: “I am extremely proud to tell you that in 2010, for the first time ever, anywhere in the world, two baby seals, Huggie and Nellie, were born at Seal Alert-SA’s seal rescue facilities that you once again compassionately, lovingly and generously also helped build.

We were successful in getting the European Union to ban all seal imports, and have made positive legal and lawful inroads with the Namibian government into looking at ways of reducing seal cruelty, and with increasing awareness and protests, driving hard to see this slaughter ended, finally.”

In addition, Mr. Hugo shared the laudable news of the South African government’s cooperative efforts in allowing the endangered seals to repopulate a former island and seal habitat after 200 years.

He also conveyed a message from the seals themselves as he said: "A message from the seal reads, 'We want to help restore the balance in this part of the tip of Africa, and it is hoped that one day, all species both human and animal, will look upon each other as brothers and sisters.'”

Mr. Hugo’s letter concluded: “Thank you Supreme Master Ching Hai, for all you have done, are doing, for all the animals, and including in particular the Cape fur seals at the tip of Africa. Francois Hugo, Seal Alert-SA”

Supreme Master Ching Hai wrote a reply to his letter and pledged a further US$50,000 to support Seal Alert-SA’s ongoing noble endeavor, with all her love and gratefulness.

With shared joy for these victories of compassion, we thank Mr. Francois Hugo of Seal Alert-SA for your ongoing courageous endeavors to save the Cape fur seals. We also join in gratefulness to Supreme Master Ching Hai for her loving assistance to protect so many other innocent lives, as we pray for the permanent end
to such cruelties and for a world, as the seals have envisioned, of peaceful co-existence among all.