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.