Two Dutch families, who were enjoying their holidays in Denmark, had a shocking experience this week. During a walk on the beach they came across a helpless baby grey seal. Bystanders had warned the local authorities, after which a kind of ‘beach-guardian’ appeared who mercilessly shot the animal in front of all the children. So a fun holiday took a nasty turn.
Following this, one of the children’s fathers (the children ranged between the ages of 4 and 16) wrote a blazing protest to the Dutch embassy in Denmark, the Danish embassy in The Hague and the Danish consulate in Groningen. A transcript of part of his letter read: ‘Our children were shocked. We spent hours talking to our children, trying to explain to them that in Denmark apparently people have different norms and values. Denmark has shown itself in a very poor light. Not only are animal rights being interpreted in a very different manner, but also the international right that children should be protected from confrontation with such atrocities has been seriously violated.’
The SRRC, who takes part in trilateral discussions concerning seals on government level between the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, will certainly be making work of this incident, which unfortunately is not a one-off occurrence. A seal can expect nothing good from the Danish. Denmark is the only country worldwide which, while having a seal population in its seas, does not have a rehabilitation centre for these animals. Needy seals are shot on the beach or are given an injection. There is a centre in Esjberg which has been equipped for seal rehabilitation, but it has not been in use since 1992. If seals do end up there they are either killed or used for animal experimentation. The Danish embassy coolly replied to the letter that ‘in Denmark this simply was the common procedure.’
Lenie ‘t Hart: ‘I am leaving for Canada this weekend to try and do my bit to stop the gruesome slaughter of seals there. But what is the difference between Canada and the way Denmark deals with the seals in our own Wadden Sea? There was nothing wrong with this young animal; it had merely lost its mother. With a little bit of help the animal could have easily survived. This year already we have been able to save more than a hundred of the young animals.’
It is sad to realise that in this way the Danish are teaching their children that it is a good thing to turn your back on an animal in need. These children are being brought up believing that killing defenceless animals is normal. Luckily, the Dutch children who were forced to witness this incident have not been raised this way. Unfortunately it did end their holiday in Denmark on a sour note.
Due to legislative rules such a thing will luckily never occur in the Netherlands. The SRRC is now going to try and make sure that this situation will not prevail in Denmark either.
Unfortunately for this seal, this action has come too late. However, the SRRC would like to show the children involved that we have a very different idea about helping animals in need. They will be invited to accompany us during the release of a couple of grey seals in – yes indeed - the Wadden Sea.
07-03-2007 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
