Please do a bit of research not just research from "certain groups". Rent a plane and fly from the South of Namibia to the North then you’ll see the "extinction" all you see are seals. In the contrary there numbers are increasing every year to the extent that the die of hunger. Please don’t come with the it’s the Fishing industries fault that there are no fish, the seals are eating more than a few times the yearly Namibian Fishing quotas per year "welcome to calculate it" Have a look at Pelican Point Walvis Bay NO seal colony aprox 12 years back go and have a look now.

Do not misunderstand me, I love animals do not agree always with the way it’s been done but they are actually a growing problem.

Posted 2 Jul 2009 by jtbnor

One human life is more important than ten million seals.The "certain groups should stick their noses where they belong.We have marine biologists working in Namibia ,all of them recommended culling.I hope you get your money back, I will pledge that seals be culled , because they are a serious problem.

Posted 2 Jul 2009 by Freeman

Cape fur seal numbers, despite the annual culling, are still increasing. These seals are not on any endangered list - in fact their conservation status is 'least concern'

Stopping the seal culling will deplete the bird and fishing stocks in the region.

Stopping the sealing industry you not only put the 200 odd people employed in this industry out of work, and who is going to support them? but you will affect the fishing industry, which is one of Namibia's biggest industries.

I received this e-mail yesterday and it really made me angry - I know that I couldn't do it myself, but keeping the seal populations in check is a necessary evil - so please check your facts before hitting the forward button.

Posted 2 Jul 2009 by zetien

Fur seals are a natural resource of Namibia, just like the cute little lambs, calves and kids slaughtered every single day for our tables. Their skins, flesh and oil are all utilised, and as a bonus their numbers are kept down to protect the fishing industry.

I am all for conservation and the humane treatment of animals, but there is a point where bunnyhugging dissolves into ridiculous sentimentality.

I would like to see an end to the clubbing of the seals, but not their culling.

Posted 2 Jul 2009 by MrsCake

Hello? How can it still be over population if every year the Number of Seal Pups being culled is increased? Let me spell it out, the more pups and bulls that are killed means there are less seals capable of reproduction in the oncoming years to repopulate the numbers, also subtract those that die naturally during the year. In short if the numbers of seals at reproductive age decreases each year with the increased of culling numbers each year the general seal population decreases it does not mysteriously increase, no matter which warped way you look at it.

The only reason for the increased culling and continued culling is money. Yes, money for the pelts and loss of money from the fishing industries who blame the seals for catching too many fish lowering the profits, lower profits for the fishing industry means they have to let workers go leading to increased unemployment and no bonus at the end of the year for that brand new car in the window. So a "lets kill the seals, this leaves more fish in the ocean for us to harvest, and we can sell the pelts; it’s like killing two birds with one stone" type of attitude.

The Seal population was doing perfectly well before humans started invading their territory, fishing industries harvesting the fish within the seal territory, naturally it will mean that the seals have to go else where to find food, and where else than closer to the general human populace?

As for seals dying each year due to starvation, this is natural selection in its brutal form, if you’re not fit enough to catch your own food you will die. If you can’t kill food for yourself you will die, if you can’t defend yourself you will die. This is natures own "Population Control" if you will, the strongest survive to advance the population, its called evolution. Lets not use the "Dying of Starvation because of Overpopulation" to justify the Culling.

Posted 2 Jul 2009 by AquarianDragon

This controversial topic has been ridden 'holrug' over and over again, and still there are people who haven't realised that the seal population is everything but close to extinction.

Irked, please take the 1000 and rather spend it on a cause worthy of your support. Not only are both Mr Hugo and his organisation rather questionable, but do you think the government would allow seal culling if it wasn't necessary? And what would be the next step of these bunny-hugger associations? Banning game hunting?

And how would you propose should the seals be killed? By shooting them?? I have read a well-researched article once that said if the seal-cubs were to be shot, the bullets would simply go through their bodies, penetrating others that weren't meant to be shot.

And Mr Hugo is a South African citizen, he should mind his own country's business.

Posted 2 Jul 2009 by gifaplkie

If it were snakes or any other less-likeable animal specie being culled, would the response from all these bunnyhuggers be the same?? I guess not, because they ain't cute and furry.......

Posted 2 Jul 2009 by gifaplkie

For arguments sake let’s say Namibian seal population 1 million (defiantly more) Make it 20% pubs that can’t breed 800 000 left. Make 300 000 thousand male (There are actual much more females then males so I’m going in favour of the seals) 500 000 females left they get 1 pub per year. Let’s say we only get 300 000 pubs (another one in favour of the seals).
Say 100 000 pubs (it’s less) get culled and another 100 000 die (bad year for seals) of other causes so we have increase of 100 000 pubs per year.

Ps. Stop killing ant’s when they take over your home.

Posted 2 Jul 2009 by jtbnor

How many seals are there along the South African and Angolan coastlines.Is part of the reason we have so many seals not due to the fact that we have protected OUR fish species and now seals migrate to our shores?I know that through years of overfishing , the fishing industries in neighboring countries are now in crisis management. Please go manage your own resources and leave ours alone.Cull the seals , they are a problem.

Posted 2 Jul 2009 by Freeman

First of all, the seals are not "brutally beaten to death". They are hit over the head in a certain way which kills them instantly.

Secondly, the statement that "seals are skinned while still alive". I would like to see the proof of that. Post an official, certified document of this, then I might believe you.

If you want to petition for something, petition for action against ppl in Asian countries who do in fact skin their animals alive after bashing them half to death. This was caught on tape and proven.

Seal culling is, as was mentioned, well organised and monitored. There are essential reasons for this action.

Posted 2 Jul 2009 by pinky22