Namibia's controversial annual seal hunt set to begin

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

15 July 2012 Last updated at 03:50 GMT

Namibia's controversial annual seal hunt set to begin

Namibia's annual seal hunt is set to begin on Sunday, amid an outcry from conservation groups.

The target this year is to club 80,000 pups and 6,000 bulls by the time the hunt ends in November.

Namibian authorities say the cull is necessary because of a burgeoning and unsustainable seal population which threatens the fishing industry.

But campaigners say the hunts are carried out for commercial gain, as the seals' fur and fat is sold on.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18845596

[pipoman]

1. Culling is beneficial

to some species. Whitetailed deer in many parts of the US for instance. I have no idea if this hunt has merit or not, just not too quick to declare it unnecessary without knowing all the facts..