Orca in the Seine: Sea Shepherd offers a reward for finding out who shot him

For once, it is the man who will be cast out. According to the autopsy report, Sedna, the killer whale that sadly ended its life in the Seine last May, was also shot in the head weeks, even months before he finally starved to death as he went up the river near Le Havre.

Sea Shepherd, an association that defends the oceans and its marine fauna, offers a substantial reward to anyone who can provide information relevant to find the person or persons responsible for this disgusting act.

Sedna, symbol of human impunity against animals

History is sad and unfortunately it could repeat itself. Last May, a young killer whale is seen near the Pont de Normandiethen a little further upstream of the Seine in the following days.

Visibly lost, in great affliction and hungry, the whale was found dead a few days later, on May 30th. According to the first examinations of the report of necropsy, Sedna (goddess of the sea) ” the animal died of starvation (a state of weakness caused by the animal having stopped eating) “.

But that is not all. In the report, we can read itammunition was found at the base of the orca’s skull, pulled by man, pulled weeks or months before dying.

The Sea Shepherd Association, who has never stopped being involved in the attempts to rescue the animal in perdition, does not intend to stop there: her today offers a reward of € 10,000 to anyone who may have information on the identity of the person who allegedly shot the animal.

Orca Sedna: autopsy of a human failure

We were able to speak to Lamya Essemlali, president of Sea Shepherd France and co-director of Sea Shepherd World, and ask her our questions.

Madmoizelle: We know, thanks to the autopsy, that Sedna was shot in the head some time ago, even though it wouldn’t be the one who killed her in the Seine. Is it a frequent and widespread act? Who could have committed this terrible act, and why?

Lamya Essemlali : Bullet attacks on marine predators and in particular on marine mammals (killer whales, dolphins, seals, etc.) are much more frequent than one might imagine. The latter, in fact, tend to come to “help” themselves in the fishing nets, and with overfishing and the scarcity of fish, the competition between fishermen and marine predators intensifies.

Crozet’s killer whales in Antarctica have paid the price, the killer whale population has been severely affected by the gunshots of Patagonian toothpaste fishermen … But the phenomenon exists in many places around the world, including France.

The Pélagis Scientific Observatory, which autopsies the corpses of seals and dolphins on our beaches, reports recurring cases in which the animals have bullet holes. This should raise questions about the dramatic consequences of overfishing, not only for the fish species targeted, but also for all those who eat these fish on our plates.

Madmoizelle: Sea Shepherd offers a € 10,000 reward to convict the person who allegedly shot the Orca Sedna. Is this a symbolic offer of awareness, or do you think that this person will be found forever and can be condemned as in the case of the beheaded seals in Finistère?

Lamya Essemlali : The main purpose of this reward is to motivate witnesses to speak. There must have been witnesses. There is great omerta in the fishing sector and what happens at sea is particularly opaque.

The result is a climate of impunity which means that most abuses and illegal attacks on marine life can take place without the perpetrators being concerned. The general public is far from imagining the extent of the carnage and the real carnage at sea: we want to put the spotlight on the problem, encourage the installation of mandatory cameras on fishing boats and push people to question the their eating habits, the consequences of which escape them.

Madmoizelle: Have you had any feedback or information on those who might have done this to Sedna since the reward offer was aired?

Lamya Essemlali : For the moment, none of the feedback we have is conclusive enough to be passed on to the authorities. However, it is a bit early, usually you have to wait a few weeks. But above all, we look forward to the results of the Sedna DNA analysis to find out which group and which region it comes from.

This will provide valuable information on the fisheries they may have interacted with. We know, for example, that there are strong tensions in Norway between herring and killer whales fishermen or even towards the Strait of Gibraltar with tuna fishermen. This information will allow us to focus communication locally to maximize the chances that information about the existence of the reward will reach the right ears …

Lose : On a personal level, aren’t you exhausted to see how some humans disrespect nature and its living beings? How can we resist such barbarism?

Lamya Essemlali : Personally, it is sometimes difficult to deal with both the carnage and, at the same time, the relative ignorance or indifference of a large part of the population. Consciousness is awakening little by little, but too slowly compared to the rate of destruction, and there is often a gap between awareness and the actual change of habits and laws.

But whatever my level of optimism or pessimism, demotivation is not part of the emotional repertoire. I cannot and do not want to afford this luxury. As long as there is something to be saved in the ocean, I will do everything I can to help.

We remind you that shooting these protected species, such as Sedna, is a crime punishable with 3 years of imprisonment and a fine of 150,000 euros.

Photo credit image of one: Lazareva