Group releases video of seals being clubbed to death in Namibia

JOHANNESBURG – A conservation group has released graphic video of men clubbing seals to death in the western Africa nation of Namibia.

Earthrace Conservation said Thursday that the video, captured in 2011 by a covert filmmaker, shows dozens of seal pups being clubbed to death by men wielding pick ax handles.

An official with Namibia's Ministry of Information said he had no response to the video.

Earthrace Conservation says Namibia and Canada are the only two countries that allow seal culls. The group says Namibia argues that culls are necessary to protect its fishing industry. But the group says South Africa's ban on seal culls had no detrimental effect on its fishing industry.

Earthrace Conservation urged Namibia to halt the culls and urged people to boycott it as a vacation destination.