The images presented in the
following program are highly sensitive and may be as disturbing to
viewers as they are to us. However, we need to show the truth about
animal cruelty.HOST: Caring, concerned viewers, welcome
to Animal World: Our Co-Inhabitants. Today’s Stop Animal Cruelty
program will examine the annual massacre or 『cull』 of Cape Fur Seals in
the southern African nation of Namibia.
These seals are
classified as an endangered species according to the Convention in
Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The
cull, or destruction of seals to reduce their population, recently made
worldwide headlines as the rescue organization Seal Alert SA (South
Africa) offered to buy out the entire Namibian seal industry and thus
effectively end this vicious practice.
The offer was made before the start of the 2009 seal culling season, which extends from July 1 to November 15.
As
US$14 million was needed to be raised to make stopping the violence
forever a reality, Supreme Master Ching Hai, hearing of this noble
endeavor, lovingly pledged US$200,000 towards the effort on June 29,
2009.
Soon after, the cull was delayed until July 15, 2009 for
further negotiations between Seal Alert South Africa and the industry.
Currently the organization is still working hard to raise sufficient
funds for the purchase.
By law, up to 85,000 baby pups and 6,000 adult males known as bulls may be killed during this bloody period.
And
amazingly, the 85,000 limit exceeds by approximately 18,000 the number
of seal pups alive on July 1 and thus annihilates all living pups in
the colony.
Before we continue, let’s learn more about the
gentle, intelligent Cape Fur Seal from Seal Alert South Africa founder
Mr. Francois Hugo, who has compassionately spent the past 10 years
rescuing, protecting and caring for these precious animals.
For more details on Seal Alert SA's rescue efforts, please visit
sealalertsa.wordpress.comOr contact Francois Hugo at sasealion@wam.co.za
+27-21-790 8774