The West Coast Seal Project

The West Coast Seal Project was founded in April 2018, when we found a badly injured juvenile seal and were unable to source assistance anywhere on the West Coast. Since then we have expanded the project, growing in experience and knowledge, but we still have a long road ahead.

Many passionate enthusiasts in different departments as well as in local communities have come on board to help develop solutions.

It is important to study and understand the behavior of seals after coming in contact with humans. Much research and training is necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of both seals and humans. Seals also touch a sensitive nerve among the local fishing community, because they have the potential to cause a great deal of damage to both equipment and income.

We are confident that through cooperation, awareness and a determined effort to craft solutions, we will find a just and equitable balance for all.

This West Coast Seal Project is the first of such operations along the West Coast of South Africa. We envisage a network of such projects.

Known as Dogs of the Ocean, Cape Fur Seals are found along the coastline of South Africa, numbering from 1,5 to 2 million, ranging from Algoa Bay in the south to the north of Namibia.

These inquisitive and playful animals are desperately in need of our attention as their numbers are in steady decline. Namibia is the only country where culling seals is legal. Their fur and genitalia are used in the Far East, the former for the fashion industry and the latter as an aphrodisiac. The yearly culling quota in Namibia is for 85 000 pups and 8 000 adult males.

In South Africa, seals are protected by the 1973 Marine Bird and Mammal Act. Most seal deaths along our coastline are either from natural causes or by human activities.

During breeding season, numerous pups and dead seals are washed up on our shores. It is during this time that many pups and juveniles are orphaned and unable to fend for themselves.

Tree Planting Project 

The West Coast of Africa is home to a unique indigenous vegetation. The veld of the long, hot and dry summers is transformed into a dazzling array of greens and spectacular colours with the advent of the winter rains. Trees are a vital component in the environmental equilibrium and with the threats posed by climate change, it is crucial that more be planted.

Tree planting space at the Owl Orphanage itself is now at a premium. Successes obtained to date definitely spur us on to plant as many as possible in the West Coast region.

Beach Clean-ups:

These create a great, fun platform that can involve the youth in our communities and schools.

Programmes for team building, competitions and environmental educational outings for children will help our municipalities and also contribute towards saving many marine birds and mammals.

Already numerous passionate individuals are picking up plastic on their beach walks, so this project will further promote solutions for the future use and disposal of plastic in our communities.

Our Motivation:

The umbrella project, the West Coast Seal Project, started with one seal. As we travelled this journey, we had to return to the drawing board several times, modifying our approach and adjusting ideas to find solutions.

We quickly realized that a one-man operation will not achieve the lasting impact on our environment that we envisaged. So this launched a snowball effect that continues to this day as the idea gathers momentum.

Through countless meetings with numerous people in different departments, institutions and communities, we still find that our greatest challenge in getting environmental projects off the ground is the lack of hands and funding.

However, we have also discovered that many people have a real passion for the environment and are eager to be involved in one way or another. So we are confident that in bringing together people of all walks of life with the same passion for nature, we can and will make a lasting difference.

We are also aware that if we wait for our Government to wake up, nothing will change.

Our environment needs us now. With understanding, mutual respect and cooperation and passionate people, we can find ways to live in harmony with nature.

Obviously the WCEPF will follow all legal procedures, applications and regulations as determined by different Government Departments.

The WCEPF NPO number is 236-007 NPO.