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The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has confirmed that two of the six Cape fur seals found stabbed and washed ashore on Kommetjie’s Long Beach were pregnant females.
Also read: Six Cape fur seals with stab wounds wash ashore on Long Beach
On Wednesday, 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.
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.
‘The wounds were all identical, made by the same weapon, wielded by the same person, differing only in their penetrative depths,’ said SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham, according to News24.
‘Some of the wounds pierced the heart and lungs; other stabs hit bones and damaged other organs; but what is sad is that both female seals were pregnant,’ she added.
The City, Sea Search and the CoGH SPCA expressed their collective outrage at these events.
‘This incident is a terrible reminder of humans’ impact on coastal wildlife,’ said Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews.
‘I want to plead with anyone who may have witnessed this incident to report the details to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA,’ he added.
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.
The SPCA stated that the carcasses would be handled in accordance with the City’s solid waste management procedures once all investigations were completed.
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Picture: City of Cape Town