Why Seal "Mystery" Deaths?

I realised that I really should have explained why it is so important to ascertain who or what is killing seals and if they are facing hunger because of depleted fish stocks.

We have sharks and other predators that pass through British waters -some moving into the area due to the sea warming up. One would expect that sick, weak seals would therefore provide easy food sources since predators do take fit and healthy ones so a weak seal is less effort. So how long before sharks begin to go hungry?  Possibly a very long time since sharks tend to have a wide variety of prey.

As I pointed out in two of my books, however, Man has been fishing on an industrial scale for a very long time and in most cases had no interest in what fish populations were, or how young the fish were -they were simply interested in money.  We saw nets being brought in so that was supposed to stop fishermen taking young fish that were too small and so of no modern (real) commercial value. Fishermen have also dredged up the sea floor to make catches causing any amount of damage to the environment and species of flora and fauna there.

As two fishermen I had a conversation with about ten years told me loudly: "We don't give a **** -this is our living and that puts food on the table".  Long term effects of over fishing was of no real concern to them.

We know that in certain areas fishermen will lure in seals and kill them.  Illegal but no one catches them -so what?  We know certain fishermen put devices in and alongside lobster pots to kill seals. Again, if not caught they just keep doing this.

I have seen photographs of seals that have been shot -now, how on earth did that happen?  I have seen the evidence of seals that were bludgeoned by fishermen.  So we can call this Explanation 1.

I have also seen photographs of seals killed by what could only be a spiral device -a propeller. The wounds seem quite obvious.  However, why did the seal hearing and seeing the craft coming towards it not swim away?  Because it was weak and unable to?  There is also the speedboat used by sporty types for fun and I have heard reports of these being steered at seals and even dolphins.  So Propellor driven craft could be seen as Explanation 2.

We then have unknown or known diseases that affect seals could this be a major problem if they are weaker due to hunger?  Older seals cannibalising younger ones is a possibility but not in high numbers so we'll class this as Explanation 3.

I have not seen any signs of "mysterious" deaths. Deaths that do not fit into 1-3 above.  Does it exist?

Smaller prey or vegetation are eaten by fish and these fall prey to other aquatic dwellers including seals (themselves prey).  Now, if we suppose that there are any large and unknown sea dwelling species out there and they survive the pollution and man-made hazards at sea, how would they cope if another chunk of the sea food chain goes?

So in looking at any seal deaths the "mystery" deaths if they exist, are just part of an overall problem. Just how many seals are recorded dying around the British and Irish coast -and are other aquatic species also being found -there are large numbers of whale strandings each year.

This is why I am interested in finding out just what is going on.

Image title: Male gray seal marine mammal animal halichoerus grypus Image from Public domain images website, http://www.public-domain-image.com/full-image/fauna-animals-public-domain-images-pictures/seals-and-sea-lions-public-domain-images-pictures/gray-seal-pictures/male-gray-seal-marine-mammal-animal-halichoerus-grypus.jpg.html
Boyd Amanda, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - http://www.public-domain-image.com/public-domain-images-pictures-free-stock-photos/fauna-animals-public-domain-images-pictures/seals-and-sea-lions-public-domain-images-pictures/gray-seal-pictures/male-gray-seal-marine-mammal-animal-halichoerus-grypus.jpg

Haunted Skies -The British UFO Encyclopedia and the only UFO books you'll ever need!

Back in July, 2017, I posted this:

I have been investigating and researching UFOs, amongst other things, since I was a teenager and got involved with UFO groups in 1974.  I have, therefore a LOT of publications and books from the late 1940s onward.

I own a complete set of the original Haunted Skies -all 11 volumes- and I can tell you without any bias that they are the best books looking at UFOs and UFO history I have ever seen.  The photographs and research, not to mention the interviews carried out by the authors, make these books a must for anyone seriously interested in the subject. If you can find copies I suggest you buy them.

Of course, since that time, John Hanson has taken over publishing the books himself under the Haunted Skies banner.  These are far superior to the original volumes and supersede those but, if you can get those original books do.

With content running to over 600 plus pages the books cannot –honestly, I am in publishing and you cannot get books this size any cheaper- be faulted.  Yet they are not selling in any number so Hanson runs things at a loss.  I have pointed out before that actually buying and then reading a book seems confined to the sensationalist trash full of inaccuracies and, honestly, lies. I can prove this by showing the sales of my six books!

In September, 2017, Hanson posted this to his Haunted Skies Face Book page:

At long last Revised Volume 2 is completed! Here is the cover and here is the 'blurb' that will go with it....I’ve brought the price down to £28 as its well over 600 pages with 400 illustrations sketches photos etc that cover the period 1960-1969...A huge amount of work which has cost thousands of pounds but I believe its important to preserve this information especially as the as the MOD records do not exist for that period...

Haunted Skies Volume 2 *revised – The history of the UFO presence on Earth - the files that Governments don’t want you to see! Foreword by Nick Pope, Endorsement by Irena Scott, Ph.D John and Dawn along with V.J Hyde proudly present their latest unique book, which covers the now forgotten period of UFO history spanning 1960-1969.

Many people have given us support over the years; some of them include, Betty and Freda Turpin of Coronation St fame (aka Betty Driver) Bill Chalker, Colin Andrews, Colonel Charles Halt, Colonel Wendelle C. Stevens, Edgar Mitchell, Ex-Canadian Defence Minister - Paul Helyer, Gordon Creighton, Graham Shuttlewood , Kevin Goodman, Steve Wills, Malcolm Robinson, Moira McGhee, Nick Pope, Philip Mantle, Robert Hastings, Roy Lake, ‘Busty’ Taylor, Maria Wheatley, Polly Carson, Pat Delgado, Mathew Williams, Robert Salas, Jenny Randles Tim Good, and Trevor James Constable.

Here is what Erich von Daniken has to say, recently after having read some of our books:

“There are still millions of people who think everything about UFOs is just fake news, or the whole thing is conspiracy. After reading Haunted Skies, revised Volume One, I am absolutely convinced that our planet is observed in our present time.

These books are very important and I hope they will influence the sceptics around the world.”

This revised Haunted Skies book represents another colossal undertaking of work, involving the spectacular presentation of hundreds of forgotten UFO sightings from Police Officers, RAF pilots, and members of the public, following over 20 years research by the authors – and, of course, the valuable contributions made by the researchers themselves.

This book is not about us but about them and our joint efforts to ensure that this information is preserved for future generations.

Our journey of discovery covers various peaks of UFO activity, including the short-lived phenomena that became labelled as the ‘Flying Cross’, which was to plague the later part of the UK in 1967.

This book, like the others, is published in colour and includes reports from the United States. It contains approximately 600 photos, sketches, illustrations, images and supporting witness testimonials.

Many people still ask why the books are so costly. This is due to print costs, the size of the book (624 pages) and of course, colour images which so many people have asked us, over the years, to include - not even taking into consideration the tremendous time incurred spent travelling the length and breadth of the UK to interview both the witnesses and researchers.

For further information on other books please see www.hauntedskies.co.uk

*This book replaces some of the original Volumes 1-6, removed from sale in late 2014.

There you have it. £28 for a book like this is actually quite low –a regular publisher would list it as somewhere between £35-40.00.  Even now I still rummage through the volumes and if you have seen any of the interviews Hanson has given Richard D. Hall (check Richplanet or You tube) you will know a lot of work has gone into this series and the only mystery is why no established publishing house has offered to publish the books.

So, Haunted Skies –highly recommended.

Mysterious Deaths and Requests

I got two different people emailing me and one reporter from Wales(?) in the last few days asking me what I thought of the UK UFO animal mutilations.

Is something going on that I don't know about?

Why me?  Well, silly question that since I guess it has something to do with my time spent advising UK police forces on exotics (large felids and canids) from 1977-3013...also, yeah, my UFO work does tend to catch up with me! But I have not, to date, seen any evidence of unexplainable -"mystery"- deaths of animals.

The question that really needs to be asked is whether those looking into the matter would even be willing to share data they have.  One thing I have found over 40+ years is that "A" will claim to have photos or samples "proving the case" but will "A" share with "B"?  99.9% of the time the answer to that is "No".

This means that any information gathered and reported on is firmly based on the opinion of "A". He can claim UFOs, secret military devices or even green and blue zebras were responsible.  However, "A", like any investigator/researcher, must have their findings and evidence looked at -this is peer review and it never takes place in Ufology (or we would never have had the whole "Greys" debacle -unless peer review found in its favour evidence wise), cattle mutilations and so forth.

I have a good few photographs of injured/dead sheep, ponies from the UK. I could immediately labelo these as mysterious.  However, as a naturalist I know what to look for and the questions to ask and, above all else, I have the files and maps that could proffer solutions in some cases.

In effect, I go into something with the knowledge I have but never believing the cause is This or That because that is not the scientific way of going about investigation or research.  You start with a blank slate and then look at each case based on any information from witnesses and a study of what the photographic evidence shows. Only -and only- after you have gone over all of this can you tentatively assess and draw conclusions.

Claims by associates of Richard D. Hall (check You Tube) of human mutilations in Wales I have very little belief in. Over 40 years I have spoken to farmers, shepherds and many others in the area involved and I have heard many strange stories -you might think "Well, they found them mutilated bodies up there" might creep in. Never have.

One project that I am intending to get back onto is one I started a year or so ago and reported on this blog -the "mysterious" deaths of seals. As a naturalist with an interest in how things in the sea are surviving I have to admit that the idea of seal cannibalism due to very low fish stocks on our coasts (how this means we might have a "healthy" fishing industry once the UK leaves the EU beats me) and seals starving.

I am more than aware that fishermen in some areas are actively killing seals, whom they see as competing for 'their' catch, using methods from shooting, traps and bludgeoning with all sorts of items. I am also aware that seals run into/pulled into ship propellors -some are hit by speedboats and so there are any number of grisly wounds that need checking and assessing.  Not to mention whether hunger has resulted in seals becoming weaker and being unable to fight off diseases.

Again, it is a case-by-case assessment.  As with UK non-native cats in certain areas, I got the warnings to keep my nose out of seal deaths in certain areas.  It seems that most of my life as a naturalist/researcher I have been told to keep my nose out of things or "face the consequences" and the one thing I note is that this was never ever from official bodies.

So my Autumn and Winter projects are sorted out!

Can I just add that if you have seen anything unusual -UFO, odd animal (where ever), or ghost activity- then please get in touch. I never EVER dismiss reports out of hand and confidentiality is always very important!

In email messages use the subject "AOP Appeal"

blacktowercg@hotmail.com

Thank you