In October, we spent a glorious seven days in Strand.
During our morning walk along the promenade on Tuesday 17 October we encountered Freddy the seal, which was very much on the defensive.
We were deeply saddened to hear of his passing in such a cruel way on Saturday 21 October.
I am so glad and impressed at the wonderful way the people of Strand have remembered Freddy.
At the time, I wrote this tribute to Freddy:
On Strand Beach a misunderstood, perceived aggressive seal grunts
Warning
Short barks, warning grunts
Biting all who are too close
Protecting its life and territory: “I was here long before you intruded, invaded, destroyed my world…just leave me alone and I’ll leave you alone… I am simply trying to rest in the sun…”
We named you Freddy Seal
We mourn your death
You died on 21 October 2023
We mourn your death
We teased you
We caused your unnecessary death
We stressed you
We harassed you
You were tortured
We prodded you with sticks for the sake of social media
Dogs attacked you
We are saddened
We are outraged
We are shameless, impenitent, unremorseful, unrepentant
We will carry on doing this on and on
We are complicit
Humanity is cruel
Humanity is kind
Attempts to relocate our seal friend, to protect
Yet this fails
You died at our hands companion seal
You died frightened alone, no other seals with you
Comrade seal, you were not aggressive; you only attacked us because you were fearful
You were defending who you are
We are saddened
We, I, am sorry
Sorry, sorry…lump in the throat
Tears, tears, tears
Heartsore, heartsore
Even death by a shark would have been better
Your life would have given life…how pointless
Absurd
Your death was by the hands of the apex predators
You and me
Us humans
We kill for enjoyment and pleasure; for the thrill of a momentary laugh on social media
Forgive us sibling seal for our immaturity, our foolishness
We pray for the freedom of children of God in the now so that with you our comrade seal, together with all God’s creatures, great and small may taste of freedom from harassment and torture in the now and just enjoy the warmth of the sun…
There is no speech, nor are there words
Their voice is not heard, yet their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.
Psalm 19.
