End cruel shooting and dissecting seals in South Africa
The Issue
Recent events in South Africa have brought a heart-wrenching issue to light: the current method of rabies testing in seals involves shooting and dissecting them. Seals that are merely curious or exhibiting natural behaviors can be mistaken for rabid, leading to needless deaths. As a deeply concerned individual, I find this practice both inhumane and unnecessary.
Email the environmental director who is in charge of the seals, and tell him to stop the killing. Gregg.Oelofse@capetown.gov.za
Rabies is a serious threat, undoubtedly, but the current approach is cruel. Whenever a seal approaches people, bites a dog or a human, or even shakes its head, it is immediately shot. Each killed to examine its brain as the primary step in rabies diagnosis. This not only causes us to lose precious marine wildlife but also contributes to a cycle of fear and misunderstanding.
There is a better way. Seals exhibiting unusual behavior should be tranquilized, vaccinated, and taken to a rescue facility for quarantine, allowing for antemortem testing methods. This approach respects their life and invites the opportunity to study and care for them humanely. Furthermore, only animals found deceased should have their brains examined. If necessary, euthanasia should be conducted in a peaceful, compassionate manner for genuinely sick animals, keeping their dignity intact. https://rapidliverabiestest.wordpress.com/. The Global Alliance for Rabies Control offers humane solutions to manage rabies in South Africa.
The current method of "euthanasia" is likely extremely cruel. Why is shooting, rather than sedate and chemical euthanasia, used? And shooting is not considered an appropriate method of rabies control. https://rabiesalliance.org/garc-statement-dog-culling-rabies-control
Please only use vaccines, wildlife rehabilitation centres, and, if necessary, chemical euthanasia by a veterinarian in cases where rabies is strongly suspect.
When a seal in Cape Town shakes their head, bites a dog or human, or does not immediately flee from humans, they are shot and dissected. To determine which seals may be infected, the team looks for four behavioral markers: aggression when approached, reluctance to retreat into the water, neurological signs such as head shaking, and biting a person, dog or another animal. If a seal exhibits any of these, the animal is shot. This is nothing short of ridiculous. The seal may simply be relaxing on the beach, and be annoyed that someone disturbed them.
We want this practice replaced with rescue and vaccination and live testing. Lorsqu'un phoque du Cap secoue la tête, mord un chien ou un humain, ou ne fuit pas immédiatement à la vue des humains, il est abattu et disséqué. Nous voulons que cette pratique soit remplacée par le sauvetage, la vaccination et les tests sur animaux vivants. https://www.change.org/p/end-cruel-shooting-and-dissecting-seals-in-south-africa
Please also promote live tests. https://rapidliverabiestest.wordpress.com/
I am very disturbed by a photo of shooting a seal. And wouldn't shooting the seal in the head damage the brain? The shooter claims he doesn't shoot in the heart or lungs, but the animals are likely shot while swimming and moving so it is likely that many of the seals may suffer when shot.
When wildlife control or authorities shoot a nuisance or suspected rabid animal for testing, they sometimes aim for the body or heart (chest), avoiding the head entirely.
Why the head is often avoided: Rabies is diagnosed by examining specific, intact parts of the animal's brain (such as the brainstem and cerebellum) in a laboratory using a Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) test.
Preserving the sample: A gunshot wound to the head damages or destroys the brain tissue, making it impossible for laboratories to test the sample accurately.
Standard practice: Wildlife officers or animal control professionals sometimes use a chest or heart shot to dispatch the animal while keeping the head and brain completely undamaged for testing.
Shooting in the chest is considered cruel because it often fails to cause instant death, leading to prolonged physical agony, breathlessness, and psychological terror before the victim loses consciousness. While security forces and hunters target the chest because it is the largest, most stable area to hit under stress, it is physiologically less humane than a brain shot.
Physiological and Psychological Trauma risk of Consciousness: Unlike a shot to the brain stem which causes fast neurological damage, chest wounds leave the brain intact and functioning. Victims frequently remain fully awake and aware of their injuries for seconds or even minutes.
Asphyxiation and Drowning: Bullets that penetrate the lungs cause them to collapse, leading to a "sucking chest wound". The victim experiences a severe, terrifying sense of breathlessness as they slowly suffocate or literally drown in their own blood.
Extreme Panic and Anxiety: Because the brain continues to receive oxygen during the initial stages of massive internal bleeding, victims experience an overwhelming wave of panic, confusion, and existential dread before slipping away.
Slow Blood Loss: If the projectile misses the heart or the aorta, death relies entirely on systemic blood loss. This process can take a significant amount of time, extending the period of intense pain from damaged tissue and shattered ribs. Animal welfare organizations, such as the RSPCA, explicitly oppose chest shots in hunting for these reasons, advocating for precise head shots which are less cruel.
Please also promote live tests. https://rapidliverabiestest.wordpress.com/
When a seal in Cape Town shakes their head, bites a dog or human, or does not immediately flee from humans, they are shot and dissected. We want this practice replaced with rescue and vaccination and live testing. Lorsqu'un phoque du Cap secoue la tête, mord un chien ou un humain, ou ne fuit pas immédiatement à la vue des humains, il est abattu et disséqué. Nous voulons que cette pratique soit remplacée par le sauvetage, la vaccination et les tests sur animaux vivants. https://www.change.org/p/end-cruel-shooting-and-dissecting-seals-in-south-africa
Several non-invasive antemortem rabies diagnostic techniques, such as the analysis of skin biopsies and saliva, have been successfully used around the world. Implementing these technologies in South Africa could prevent the needless destruction of seals, providing authorities with accurate data while saving lives.
According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa's coastline is home to rich and diverse marine wildlife that must be cherished and protected. By altering the rabies testing protocol, we will align our practices with the nation's commitment to wildlife protection. This will not only preserve the ecological balance but also maintain the international reputation of South Africa as a leader in wildlife conservation.
Please sign this petition to urge the South African government and wildlife authorities to adopt humane practices, ensuring that all possible alternatives are explored before choosing to end the life of a seal. Together, we can end this disturbing cycle and offer these animals the protection they deserve.
116
The Issue
Recent events in South Africa have brought a heart-wrenching issue to light: the current method of rabies testing in seals involves shooting and dissecting them. Seals that are merely curious or exhibiting natural behaviors can be mistaken for rabid, leading to needless deaths. As a deeply concerned individual, I find this practice both inhumane and unnecessary.
Email the environmental director who is in charge of the seals, and tell him to stop the killing. Gregg.Oelofse@capetown.gov.za
Rabies is a serious threat, undoubtedly, but the current approach is cruel. Whenever a seal approaches people, bites a dog or a human, or even shakes its head, it is immediately shot. Each killed to examine its brain as the primary step in rabies diagnosis. This not only causes us to lose precious marine wildlife but also contributes to a cycle of fear and misunderstanding.
There is a better way. Seals exhibiting unusual behavior should be tranquilized, vaccinated, and taken to a rescue facility for quarantine, allowing for antemortem testing methods. This approach respects their life and invites the opportunity to study and care for them humanely. Furthermore, only animals found deceased should have their brains examined. If necessary, euthanasia should be conducted in a peaceful, compassionate manner for genuinely sick animals, keeping their dignity intact. https://rapidliverabiestest.wordpress.com/. The Global Alliance for Rabies Control offers humane solutions to manage rabies in South Africa.
The current method of "euthanasia" is likely extremely cruel. Why is shooting, rather than sedate and chemical euthanasia, used? And shooting is not considered an appropriate method of rabies control. https://rabiesalliance.org/garc-statement-dog-culling-rabies-control
Please only use vaccines, wildlife rehabilitation centres, and, if necessary, chemical euthanasia by a veterinarian in cases where rabies is strongly suspect.
When a seal in Cape Town shakes their head, bites a dog or human, or does not immediately flee from humans, they are shot and dissected. To determine which seals may be infected, the team looks for four behavioral markers: aggression when approached, reluctance to retreat into the water, neurological signs such as head shaking, and biting a person, dog or another animal. If a seal exhibits any of these, the animal is shot. This is nothing short of ridiculous. The seal may simply be relaxing on the beach, and be annoyed that someone disturbed them.
We want this practice replaced with rescue and vaccination and live testing. Lorsqu'un phoque du Cap secoue la tête, mord un chien ou un humain, ou ne fuit pas immédiatement à la vue des humains, il est abattu et disséqué. Nous voulons que cette pratique soit remplacée par le sauvetage, la vaccination et les tests sur animaux vivants. https://www.change.org/p/end-cruel-shooting-and-dissecting-seals-in-south-africa
Please also promote live tests. https://rapidliverabiestest.wordpress.com/
I am very disturbed by a photo of shooting a seal. And wouldn't shooting the seal in the head damage the brain? The shooter claims he doesn't shoot in the heart or lungs, but the animals are likely shot while swimming and moving so it is likely that many of the seals may suffer when shot.
When wildlife control or authorities shoot a nuisance or suspected rabid animal for testing, they sometimes aim for the body or heart (chest), avoiding the head entirely.
Why the head is often avoided: Rabies is diagnosed by examining specific, intact parts of the animal's brain (such as the brainstem and cerebellum) in a laboratory using a Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) test.
Preserving the sample: A gunshot wound to the head damages or destroys the brain tissue, making it impossible for laboratories to test the sample accurately.
Standard practice: Wildlife officers or animal control professionals sometimes use a chest or heart shot to dispatch the animal while keeping the head and brain completely undamaged for testing.
Shooting in the chest is considered cruel because it often fails to cause instant death, leading to prolonged physical agony, breathlessness, and psychological terror before the victim loses consciousness. While security forces and hunters target the chest because it is the largest, most stable area to hit under stress, it is physiologically less humane than a brain shot.
Physiological and Psychological Trauma risk of Consciousness: Unlike a shot to the brain stem which causes fast neurological damage, chest wounds leave the brain intact and functioning. Victims frequently remain fully awake and aware of their injuries for seconds or even minutes.
Asphyxiation and Drowning: Bullets that penetrate the lungs cause them to collapse, leading to a "sucking chest wound". The victim experiences a severe, terrifying sense of breathlessness as they slowly suffocate or literally drown in their own blood.
Extreme Panic and Anxiety: Because the brain continues to receive oxygen during the initial stages of massive internal bleeding, victims experience an overwhelming wave of panic, confusion, and existential dread before slipping away.
Slow Blood Loss: If the projectile misses the heart or the aorta, death relies entirely on systemic blood loss. This process can take a significant amount of time, extending the period of intense pain from damaged tissue and shattered ribs. Animal welfare organizations, such as the RSPCA, explicitly oppose chest shots in hunting for these reasons, advocating for precise head shots which are less cruel.
Please also promote live tests. https://rapidliverabiestest.wordpress.com/
When a seal in Cape Town shakes their head, bites a dog or human, or does not immediately flee from humans, they are shot and dissected. We want this practice replaced with rescue and vaccination and live testing. Lorsqu'un phoque du Cap secoue la tête, mord un chien ou un humain, ou ne fuit pas immédiatement à la vue des humains, il est abattu et disséqué. Nous voulons que cette pratique soit remplacée par le sauvetage, la vaccination et les tests sur animaux vivants. https://www.change.org/p/end-cruel-shooting-and-dissecting-seals-in-south-africa
Several non-invasive antemortem rabies diagnostic techniques, such as the analysis of skin biopsies and saliva, have been successfully used around the world. Implementing these technologies in South Africa could prevent the needless destruction of seals, providing authorities with accurate data while saving lives.
According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa's coastline is home to rich and diverse marine wildlife that must be cherished and protected. By altering the rabies testing protocol, we will align our practices with the nation's commitment to wildlife protection. This will not only preserve the ecological balance but also maintain the international reputation of South Africa as a leader in wildlife conservation.
Please sign this petition to urge the South African government and wildlife authorities to adopt humane practices, ensuring that all possible alternatives are explored before choosing to end the life of a seal. Together, we can end this disturbing cycle and offer these animals the protection they deserve.
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Petition created on August 28, 2026