This article contains content that readers may find distressing.
The bodies of six Cape fur seals, all with stab wounds, washed ashore on Kommetjie’s Long Beach on Wednesday. As the world celebrates World Oceans Day today, this incident serves as a sobering reminder of humans’ impact on coastal wildlife.
X-rays and postmortems performed by Sea Search and a wildlife forensics team confirmed that all six seals were stabbed, most likely while at sea, drowned and washed ashore at Kommetjie’s Long Beach as a result of the trauma sustained from the stabbing.
Also read: Dive into action: 5 ways to actively participate this World Ocean Day
Yesterday, 7 June 2023, the City’s Coastal Management Branch received reports from Kommetjie residents that six large Cape fur seals had washed ashore, each with what appeared to be unusual wounds.
City officials went to the scene, assessed the carcasses, and determined that further investigation was required due to the unusual wounds. Following consultation with both the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DFFE) and the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, it was decided to send all six carcasses, four males and two females, to the CoGH SPCA for X-rays and full post-mortems to determine the cause of death.
On Wednesday evening, the carcasses were delivered to the CoGH SPCA.
The City, Sea Search and the CoGH SPCA expressed their collective outrage at these events, particularly on World Oceans Day.
‘World Oceans Day is celebrated around the globe to create awareness of the protection of our coasts, ocean areas and marine wildlife,’ said the City’s deputy mayor and mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
‘This is a horrific incident that should sadden all of us. I want to plead with anyone who may have witnessed this incident to report the details to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.’
The three organisations have agreed to collaborate with DFFE officials to ensure that when those responsible for this crime are identified and apprehended, the full force of the law is applied.
‘We need to ensure that an appropriate example is set so that this senseless waste and cruelty to our marine wildlife does not happen again,’ said Alderman Andrews.
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Picture: City of Cape Town
