Petition launched to save Keith the seal from 'drastic action' (From Ledbury Reporter)
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Petition launched to save Keith the seal from 'drastic action'
11:30am Friday 18th January 2013 in News By Neil Watts
Petition launched to save Keith the seal from 'drastic action'
SUPPORTERS of Worcestershire’s celebrity seal Keith have rallied behind the animal in their hundreds amid threats to shoot her if she can’t be removed from the river Severn.
The Angling Trust said they would be forced to take drastic action and secure a licence to shoot her using a qualified marksman to protect fish stocks and other wildlife.
Fans of the wayward seal, which has been spotted in Worcester, Upton-upon-Severn and Bewdley, have set up a petition and taking to social networking websites to voice their concerns and show their support.
Within its first day the petition had already gathered more than 200 signatures, while a Facebook page has more than 420 ‘likes’.
Writing on Facebook, Nick Drummer said: “Seals are a protected species. The idea that you can just shoot a protected species because it is in an inconvenient place, or costing you a few quid is, frankly, disgusting. You can't do it to bats, orchids or butterflies, why are seals any different?”
Rebecca Drozd added: “Disgusting ...why do anglers think they should control the rivers? At least Keith is fishing to eat rather than just for sport. I hope all the canoeist and other peaceful wildlife enthusiasts sign the petition.”
While Heather Dixon wrote: “I have read the angling trusts statement and I agree that keith should go back to his natural habitat as nature intended and I feel that the EA (Environment Agency) should assist in this matter.
“However, fishing is done as a sport or hobby not as a necessity. The rivers belong to all of us not just the angling trust and to shoot an animal based on a time scale given by them would be wrong.”
The Trust has written to a number of organisations, including the Environment Agency, demanding the seal, be relocated. Concerns have also be raised about Keith eating ducks and waterfowl.
However, the agency and RSPCA said they would not take any action as the seal would naturally make her way back to the sea.
For more information and to sign the petition, go to facebook.com/savetheseal or gopetition.com/petitions/save-keith-the-seal.html.
Comments(56)
broken6
says...
12:01pm Fri 18 Jan 13
pudniw_gib
says...
12:23pm Fri 18 Jan 13
I would think that the anglers dont really have a valid case though I can see them taking the law into their own hands and have a go at shooting it anyway.
pinkfluff
says...
12:24pm Fri 18 Jan 13
broken6 wrote:Indeed....it's one seal. Selfish anglers will not get any empathy or sympathy from me. Shame on them!
If they want to "protect fish stocks" get a special licence to get rid of Anglers!
pudniw_gib
says...
12:38pm Fri 18 Jan 13
jennifer1995
says...
12:52pm Fri 18 Jan 13
LisaVentura
says...
1:47pm Fri 18 Jan 13
Seals are a protected species so if the Angling Trust are serious about harming Keith it will be disastrous for the image of Bewdley both economically and through loss of reputation. There is no justification for this kind of action – how humane is it that anglers catch fish and then throw them back into the river?
A licence must be obtained before any action can be taken and it is extremely difficult for this kind of licence to go through. If businesses in Bewdley think that one seal who eats roughly 25lbs of a fish a day (equivalent to approximately 5 fish a day) is a threat to their livelihoods then they should consider the even bigger impact that it will have on their businesses f something happens to Keith or someone takes the law into their own hands and harms her as this will really put Bewdley and Worcestershire on the map if Keith is harmed in this way.
LisaVentura
says...
2:06pm Fri 18 Jan 13
It seems they want Keith dead
What a bunch of morons they are
Do they think their request will go far?
They are idiots of the first degree
They are as selfish as selfish can be
I’m outraged to think they have the right
To shoot Keith and banish her out of sight
Please sign the petition, give Keith your support
She’s done nothing wrong apart from caught
A few fish to satisfy her hunger and eat
She deserves to have a bit of meat
So to all you anglers who think Keith’s a threat
Stick your request up your a**s, and please let
This lovely seal stay, live and let live
She has such a lot of pleasure to give
Ralph123
says...
5:24pm Fri 18 Jan 13
pinkfluff
says...
9:05am Sat 19 Jan 13
Lets hope she gets loads of support :-)
Writing a poem is better than doing nothing against the anglers trying to protect "their" fish stocks.
MJI
says...
10:03am Sat 19 Jan 13
lizzyloolah
says...
10:19am Sat 19 Jan 13
http://www.gopetitio
n.com/petitions/save
-keith-the-seal/sign
.html#se
pinkfluff
says...
10:24am Sat 19 Jan 13
MJI wrote:Nothing wrong with a balanced diet :-)
Stuff the fish SAVE THE DUCKS!
timevans
says...
11:09am Sat 19 Jan 13
longpete
says...
11:13am Sat 19 Jan 13
It's a shame the seals can't shoot an angler every so often until they learn to stop being such a bunch of selfish, murderous jerks.
longpete
says...
11:17am Sat 19 Jan 13
Gerry Taggart
says...
11:33am Sat 19 Jan 13
Even funnier, a man who ran a prIvate fishing pool stocked with mirror carp (not even a native fish)complained that ottters were catching his fish.
For a few years, the Peregine Falcon family have been nesting on teh St Andrews Spire. They're not there for fun; they're there to kill other birds to eat. We never whinge about them.
Horror of horrors! Whatever next? Maybe a monster pike will be seen eating small fish. That'll have to be killed too.
By the way, who qualifies marksmen? As far as I know, it's only the Armed Forces and Police who have these people. Who's going to call out a sniper to kill a seal?
LisaVentura
says...
12:01pm Sat 19 Jan 13
Please show your support and sign the petition - http://www.gopetitio
n.com/petitions/save
-keith-the-seal.html
And like the facebook page - www.facebook.com/sav
etheseal
sharpy
says...
1:23pm Sat 19 Jan 13
The Doosra
says...
1:58pm Sat 19 Jan 13
scolesy
says...
3:23pm Sat 19 Jan 13
bobby47
says...
3:30pm Sat 19 Jan 13
As an angler I'll be damned if I sit there dragging on my hand rolled cigarette waiting for my quiver tip to twitch and being worried that some fool aims his firearm at me and dispatches a bullet in response to this thread of news.
This type of response, namely to shoot an angler is foolhardy, criminal and if I turn out to be the recipient of the aforementioned bullet, extremely inconvenient and upsetting.
I'll be damned if I drag myself out of bed, scurry down to the river and then find myself looking out for citizens armed with a weapon intent on sending me off to meet our Sweet Loving Jesus.
For my part, I'll not sit back and be shot simply because Im an angler. From hereon, anyone who approaches me with a gun muttering, ' Im a friend of Keith', I'll respond and defend myself against this worrying development.
I mean, this could catch on. Good people like me could leave home intent upon catching a barbel only to return riddled with bullets or shot!
Im not standing for this. Im going to the top with this one.
I refuse to sit back and allow myself to be shot dead by some fool intent upon keeping Keith safe.
nigeaa
says...
4:39pm Sat 19 Jan 13
pudniw_gib wrote:Yes yes yes sign sign sign, social networking at its best, sign sign sign give the barbel a break and sign to get Keith relocated.note to self "put club in rod holdall"
Seals used to come up the Severn more than now simply because it was tidal further up, but this does mean it is in its natural habitat and should be left alone.
I would think that the anglers dont really have a valid case though I can see them taking the law into their own hands and have a go at shooting it anyway.
Guy66
says...
5:13pm Sat 19 Jan 13
dulon
says...
6:55pm Sat 19 Jan 13
Just relocate the bloody thing back to the severn estuary and then concentrate on why the salmon have disappeared over the past 150 years.
blueworcs
says...
7:08pm Sat 19 Jan 13
bobby47 wrote:If the Seal takes a hit, we will cut off more than your fishing lines....Capiche?
Good grief! This is getting out of hand.
As an angler I'll be damned if I sit there dragging on my hand rolled cigarette waiting for my quiver tip to twitch and being worried that some fool aims his firearm at me and dispatches a bullet in response to this thread of news.
This type of response, namely to shoot an angler is foolhardy, criminal and if I turn out to be the recipient of the aforementioned bullet, extremely inconvenient and upsetting.
I'll be damned if I drag myself out of bed, scurry down to the river and then find myself looking out for citizens armed with a weapon intent on sending me off to meet our Sweet Loving Jesus.
For my part, I'll not sit back and be shot simply because Im an angler. From hereon, anyone who approaches me with a gun muttering, ' Im a friend of Keith', I'll respond and defend myself against this worrying development.
I mean, this could catch on. Good people like me could leave home intent upon catching a barbel only to return riddled with bullets or shot!
Im not standing for this. Im going to the top with this one.
I refuse to sit back and allow myself to be shot dead by some fool intent upon keeping Keith safe.
scolesy
says...
7:47pm Sat 19 Jan 13
blueworcs wrote:Cut off more then fishing lines??? Very murky waters we'er going here,,any way no need for the use of fire arms,one good black widow and a nice round stone will do,and we all know most fisherman carry one to fire bait,,.Job done and I might even go home with a nice warm pair of slippers,,,,,,,,,,,,
bobby47 wrote:If the Seal takes a hit, we will cut off more than your fishing lines....Capiche?
Good grief! This is getting out of hand.
As an angler I'll be damned if I sit there dragging on my hand rolled cigarette waiting for my quiver tip to twitch and being worried that some fool aims his firearm at me and dispatches a bullet in response to this thread of news.
This type of response, namely to shoot an angler is foolhardy, criminal and if I turn out to be the recipient of the aforementioned bullet, extremely inconvenient and upsetting.
I'll be damned if I drag myself out of bed, scurry down to the river and then find myself looking out for citizens armed with a weapon intent on sending me off to meet our Sweet Loving Jesus.
For my part, I'll not sit back and be shot simply because Im an angler. From hereon, anyone who approaches me with a gun muttering, ' Im a friend of Keith', I'll respond and defend myself against this worrying development.
I mean, this could catch on. Good people like me could leave home intent upon catching a barbel only to return riddled with bullets or shot!
Im not standing for this. Im going to the top with this one.
I refuse to sit back and allow myself to be shot dead by some fool intent upon keeping Keith safe.
scolesy
says...
7:57pm Sat 19 Jan 13
scolesy
says...
8:00pm Sat 19 Jan 13
The Doosra
says...
8:12pm Sat 19 Jan 13
.now there's a thought.
Biggles
says...
8:31pm Sat 19 Jan 13
bobby47 wrote:Brilliant,
Good grief! This is getting out of hand. As an angler I'll be damned if I sit there dragging on my hand rolled cigarette waiting for my quiver tip to twitch and being worried that some fool aims his firearm at me and dispatches a bullet in response to this thread of news. This type of response, namely to shoot an angler is foolhardy, criminal and if I turn out to be the recipient of the aforementioned bullet, extremely inconvenient and upsetting. I'll be damned if I drag myself out of bed, scurry down to the river and then find myself looking out for citizens armed with a weapon intent on sending me off to meet our Sweet Loving Jesus. For my part, I'll not sit back and be shot simply because Im an angler. From hereon, anyone who approaches me with a gun muttering, ' Im a friend of Keith', I'll respond and defend myself against this worrying development. I mean, this could catch on. Good people like me could leave home intent upon catching a barbel only to return riddled with bullets or shot! Im not standing for this. Im going to the top with this one. I refuse to sit back and allow myself to be shot dead by some fool intent upon keeping Keith safe.
.
I'm an angler too, I'll not be signing any petition, it's only a poxy seal, just get rid of it and stop being sentimental !
.
We could bring back hunting with hounds too, that'd get the townies crying.
scolesy
says...
8:48pm Sat 19 Jan 13
The Doosra
says...
9:33pm Sat 19 Jan 13
Biggles wrote:The seal is hunting to live - you're hunting for sport. There's the difference..
bobby47 wrote:Brilliant,
Good grief! This is getting out of hand. As an angler I'll be damned if I sit there dragging on my hand rolled cigarette waiting for my quiver tip to twitch and being worried that some fool aims his firearm at me and dispatches a bullet in response to this thread of news. This type of response, namely to shoot an angler is foolhardy, criminal and if I turn out to be the recipient of the aforementioned bullet, extremely inconvenient and upsetting. I'll be damned if I drag myself out of bed, scurry down to the river and then find myself looking out for citizens armed with a weapon intent on sending me off to meet our Sweet Loving Jesus. For my part, I'll not sit back and be shot simply because Im an angler. From hereon, anyone who approaches me with a gun muttering, ' Im a friend of Keith', I'll respond and defend myself against this worrying development. I mean, this could catch on. Good people like me could leave home intent upon catching a barbel only to return riddled with bullets or shot! Im not standing for this. Im going to the top with this one. I refuse to sit back and allow myself to be shot dead by some fool intent upon keeping Keith safe.
.
I'm an angler too, I'll not be signing any petition, it's only a poxy seal, just get rid of it and stop being sentimental !
.
We could bring back hunting with hounds too, that'd get the townies crying.
scolesy
says...
9:41pm Sat 19 Jan 13
blueworcs wrote:Cut off more then fishing lines??? Very murky waters we'er going here,,any way no need for the use of fire arms,one good black widow and a nice round stone will do,and we all know most fisherman carry one to fire bait,,.Job done and I might even go home with a nice warm pair of slippers,,,,,,,,,,,,
bobby47 wrote:If the Seal takes a hit, we will cut off more than your fishing lines....Capiche?
Good grief! This is getting out of hand.
As an angler I'll be damned if I sit there dragging on my hand rolled cigarette waiting for my quiver tip to twitch and being worried that some fool aims his firearm at me and dispatches a bullet in response to this thread of news.
This type of response, namely to shoot an angler is foolhardy, criminal and if I turn out to be the recipient of the aforementioned bullet, extremely inconvenient and upsetting.
I'll be damned if I drag myself out of bed, scurry down to the river and then find myself looking out for citizens armed with a weapon intent on sending me off to meet our Sweet Loving Jesus.
For my part, I'll not sit back and be shot simply because Im an angler. From hereon, anyone who approaches me with a gun muttering, ' Im a friend of Keith', I'll respond and defend myself against this worrying development.
I mean, this could catch on. Good people like me could leave home intent upon catching a barbel only to return riddled with bullets or shot!
Im not standing for this. Im going to the top with this one.
I refuse to sit back and allow myself to be shot dead by some fool intent upon keeping Keith safe.
bobby47
says...
9:58pm Sat 19 Jan 13
Let me assure all of you Posters who are supporting Keith and make my position clear before some fool goes off at a tangent and seeks me out on the River.
I have no intention of hurting this member of the animal kingdom and i have no wish to hear that he has been harmed.
So keen am I to retain my testicles and not be shot let me say this!
If this beast decides to leave his watery habitat, crawl up the river bank, eat my bait, trash my rod and reel and even succeed in mating with me, there'll be no angry response from me.
I will quietly gather up my belongings, leave the river bank and with good fortune, i'll make a full recovery from this very unpleasant encounter with this member of the animal kingdom and live out the rest of my life in peace.
My warmest regards to you all.
The Doosra
says...
10:33pm Sat 19 Jan 13
bobby47 wrote:Bobby, I get the joke even if some others don't!
Good God! Well if these two forms of grevious bodily harm are on the table and theres nothing else hidden in the pipeline, I'll go for being shot rather than the terrible castration that my good friend Blueworcs has so well described.
Let me assure all of you Posters who are supporting Keith and make my position clear before some fool goes off at a tangent and seeks me out on the River.
I have no intention of hurting this member of the animal kingdom and i have no wish to hear that he has been harmed.
So keen am I to retain my testicles and not be shot let me say this!
If this beast decides to leave his watery habitat, crawl up the river bank, eat my bait, trash my rod and reel and even succeed in mating with me, there'll be no angry response from me.
I will quietly gather up my belongings, leave the river bank and with good fortune, i'll make a full recovery from this very unpleasant encounter with this member of the animal kingdom and live out the rest of my life in peace.
My warmest regards to you all.
spider666
says...
8:52am Sun 20 Jan 13
broken6 wrote:Anglers pay a licence fee and that money goes towards looking after our rivers,helping to keep them clean and allowing restocking of fish when and where needed after things like accidental spillages into rivers or droughts.Also it allows for vital research to help maintain fish populationsNo anglers mean no vital revenue for this.
If they want to "protect fish stocks" get a special licence to get rid of Anglers!
spider666
says...
8:57am Sun 20 Jan 13
pudniw_gib wrote:I'm an angler and i certainly do NOT want Keith or any other wildlife killed for any reason.Seals,cormora
Do you think any of them will come on here and try and justify shooting wildlife then?
nts etc have a place in our eco system the same as any other creature.
spider666
says...
9:04am Sun 20 Jan 13
bobby47 wrote:Brilliant ;-)
Good God! Well if these two forms of grevious bodily harm are on the table and theres nothing else hidden in the pipeline, I'll go for being shot rather than the terrible castration that my good friend Blueworcs has so well described.
Let me assure all of you Posters who are supporting Keith and make my position clear before some fool goes off at a tangent and seeks me out on the River.
I have no intention of hurting this member of the animal kingdom and i have no wish to hear that he has been harmed.
So keen am I to retain my testicles and not be shot let me say this!
If this beast decides to leave his watery habitat, crawl up the river bank, eat my bait, trash my rod and reel and even succeed in mating with me, there'll be no angry response from me.
I will quietly gather up my belongings, leave the river bank and with good fortune, i'll make a full recovery from this very unpleasant encounter with this member of the animal kingdom and live out the rest of my life in peace.
My warmest regards to you all.
blueworcs
says...
11:24am Sun 20 Jan 13
Biggles
says...
11:43am Sun 20 Jan 13
The Doosra wrote:I am/We are, top of the food chain, the seal isn't, that is the major difference.
Biggles wrote:The seal is hunting to live - you're hunting for sport. There's the difference..bobby47 wrote: Good grief! This is getting out of hand. As an angler I'll be damned if I sit there dragging on my hand rolled cigarette waiting for my quiver tip to twitch and being worried that some fool aims his firearm at me and dispatches a bullet in response to this thread of news. This type of response, namely to shoot an angler is foolhardy, criminal and if I turn out to be the recipient of the aforementioned bullet, extremely inconvenient and upsetting. I'll be damned if I drag myself out of bed, scurry down to the river and then find myself looking out for citizens armed with a weapon intent on sending me off to meet our Sweet Loving Jesus. For my part, I'll not sit back and be shot simply because Im an angler. From hereon, anyone who approaches me with a gun muttering, ' Im a friend of Keith', I'll respond and defend myself against this worrying development. I mean, this could catch on. Good people like me could leave home intent upon catching a barbel only to return riddled with bullets or shot! Im not standing for this. Im going to the top with this one. I refuse to sit back and allow myself to be shot dead by some fool intent upon keeping Keith safe.Brilliant, . I'm an angler too, I'll not be signing any petition, it's only a poxy seal, just get rid of it and stop being sentimental ! . We could bring back hunting with hounds too, that'd get the townies crying.
.
I/we decide if it lives, if it is is relocated, left alone, or becomes slippers.
.
All this handwringing is just sentimental rubbish.
.
There are thousands of humans needlessly dieing every day, we need to worry about that, not a seal !
Werintrouble
says...
12:32pm Sun 20 Jan 13
bobby47
says...
2:26pm Sun 20 Jan 13
As for 'being a genius'. Most certainly No!
Which brings me to the other bloody option which is slightly less appealing, namely, the state of my current mental health.
Let me answer you in the kindest and most restrained way I can. Get Stuffed!
spider666
says...
2:35pm Sun 20 Jan 13
bobby47 wrote:Hmmmm Stuffed seal ---now there's a sunday alternative lol
Weintrouble, This is a knotty conundrum isn't it?, especially when the subject is bloody me.
As for 'being a genius'. Most certainly No!
Which brings me to the other bloody option which is slightly less appealing, namely, the state of my current mental health.
Let me answer you in the kindest and most restrained way I can. Get Stuffed!
goodygoody
says...
3:00pm Sun 20 Jan 13
bobby47
says...
3:30pm Sun 20 Jan 13
Before some fool begins to drag my good name through the mud or in this case across a flooded field en route to the river, I'll not be accused of breaching my covenant with God and all that good and holy and be held up as the father of these pups.
I'll be damned if this ugly rumour catches fire, gains momentum resulting in the Constable tasering me and hauling me before the Magistrate accused of some unnatural act with a member of the animal kingdom.
That's its come to this! Having to defend myself against a paternity claim involving seals.
I ain't having it!
induby
says...
3:37pm Sun 20 Jan 13
I mean the way these anglers are going on its like jaws is camping out in Bewdley eating little children and puppies.
Seriously anglers lets get some perspective!
bobby47
says...
4:04pm Sun 20 Jan 13
For the most part anglers love wildlife and probably do a great deal more than most to preserve the wildlife found in and around are rivers.
Truthfully, I think some of the Posters are simply joking and I don't want you to be hurt by any comments here.
It's just silly humour and should be dismissed as simple fun.
I wouldn't want this lovely animal to be removed from the river just to allow me to fish and I think that all the angling posters probably feel the same.
They are just, like me, being a little silly and generating a little humour in these hard times.
My very warmest regards to you and all who wish to see this great creature kept safe.
Maggie Would
says...
4:20pm Sun 20 Jan 13
The Doosra wrote:Oh, so do I, the best laugh I've had in ages!
bobby47 wrote:Bobby, I get the joke even if some others don't!
Good God! Well if these two forms of grevious bodily harm are on the table and theres nothing else hidden in the pipeline, I'll go for being shot rather than the terrible castration that my good friend Blueworcs has so well described.
Let me assure all of you Posters who are supporting Keith and make my position clear before some fool goes off at a tangent and seeks me out on the River.
I have no intention of hurting this member of the animal kingdom and i have no wish to hear that he has been harmed.
So keen am I to retain my testicles and not be shot let me say this!
If this beast decides to leave his watery habitat, crawl up the river bank, eat my bait, trash my rod and reel and even succeed in mating with me, there'll be no angry response from me.
I will quietly gather up my belongings, leave the river bank and with good fortune, i'll make a full recovery from this very unpleasant encounter with this member of the animal kingdom and live out the rest of my life in peace.
My warmest regards to you all.
induby
says...
6:05pm Sun 20 Jan 13
whilst I appreciate there is humour in your posts and making light of this situation, I genuinely believe that there are anglers out there/reading this who will be more than ready to blame a bad days catch on keith the seal, and unfortunately i also think those who naively and stupidly think that way might take the situation into there own hands.
Ralph123
says...
6:21pm Sun 20 Jan 13
Unfortunately no amount of petitioning and poem writing (had to add that i there) is going to stop some mad vigilante taking a pot shot.
Enjoy Keith, watch her munch on a Salmon or two, before you know it she'll have made her way back to the sea never to be seen again and her legacy will just be a massive debate that nobody really needed to have about people who didn't really want to kill her in the first place!!
bobby47
says...
6:26pm Sun 20 Jan 13
My warmest regards to all of you and a very Happy New Year. Bye to all.
Andy-Apache
says...
12:22pm Mon 21 Jan 13
I have angled in the past - though in the sea when I lived near, from the beach or my boat, but I ate my catch. Hunting? No, not really, especially when you are throwing back your catch. Just a quiet way to spend a few hours with nature, or a way to fill your freezer as was my case.
As pretty much everyone has said, I very much doubt any sane angler wants to shoot a seal! Or any sane angler thinks a single seal will reduce fish stocks (leave that to the run off from the fields following floods covering spawn - that will have a major impact)
I imagine, in internet parlance, this has been a rather entertaining and very successful 'troll'
®og
says...
1:18pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Elgol2012
says...
10:37pm Mon 21 Jan 13
scolesy
says...
2:10pm Tue 22 Jan 13
penelope52@btinternet.com says...
11:42am Fri 18 Jan 13