Seals become trophies

SEALS living along the Namibian coast are being internationally advertised to trophy hunters, although they are listed as an endangered species under an international convention. Seals are also not on the official list of huntable game species in Namibia.
A local hunting operator, Kataneno Hunt, is offering hunting trips to shoot Cape Fur Seal bulls. On the Internet the proprietor of Kataneno Hunt, Heiko Binding, says that "hunting for Cape Fur Seal bulls at the coast not far from Swakopmund can be arranged, ideally with a fishing trip and/or a touristic (sic) trip from September 15 to November 15 only". Francois Hugo, who runs Seal Alert, said Namibia advertised the Cape Cross seal colony as the largest in southern Africa for sightseeing tourists in glossy brochures.

"Now they are also hunted, but it is not a proper hunt, the seals are very tame along the Namibian coast and are often sleeping on the beach.