[imagesource:wikimediacommons]

(Warning: Gruesome Images)

Justice has been served for one battered seal.

The four men accused of trapping and stoning a Cape fur seal on a Cape Town beach in January have been found guilty, and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, suspended for five years, with a range of conditions.

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has welcomed the court outcome, saying that this situation will send a clear message that animal cruelty won’t be tolerated.

The animal rights organisation was alerted to the harrowing scene on Monwabisi Beach near Khayelitsha, where a group of men were found attempting to kill an adult Cape fur seal by hurling large rocks at the trapped and terrified animal.

While the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement Officer prevented the men from killing the poor animal right then and there, the seal suffered gruesome injuries, including severe facial and skull fractures, and, unfortunately, had to be euthanised when it arrived at the 24-hour veterinary clinic for treatment.

The seal’s mouth bled profusely, one eye was crushed, and most of its teeth had been violently broken off.

The four men faced animal cruelty charges under the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 and were also charged with hunting a protected species without a permit, violating the Threatened or Protected Marine Species (ToPS) Regulations of 2017 and the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) 10 of 2004.

The conditions of their six-year prison sentence include writing a 500-word essay on marine mammals, highlighting the importance of wildlife and education for preservation, as well as undertaking 18 months of community service, clocking a minimum of 16 hours monthly at SPCA-designated branches. They are also required to make consistent financial contributions totalling R2,000 each to the SPCA.

The incident serves as a bleak reminder of the urgent need for increased awareness and education on animal rights and welfare, with Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA saying that the judgment is welcome, adding that “our aim is to teach these individuals compassion, a value crucial for the wellbeing of society and its creatures”.

[source:capespca]