Seal Forced To Drag Children Around in Boat With Rope Tied Around Its Neck | 22 Words

Viewers have been left appalled after watching a seal forced to drag children around in a boat, with a rope tied to its neck.

The footage is heartbreaking...

Yet another clip of shocking animal cruelty has emerged online.

This time, its seals that are the victims.

The clip surfaced last weekend.

And has left the internet shocked and appalled by what they witnessed.

It's insane how this still goes on...

In so many parts of the world too.

More people than ever before are protesting against the captivity of marine animals.

Since the 1960s, the likes of whales, dolphins, and seals have been captured from the wild and forced into small tanks for our own amusement.

They are often forced to perform in front of large audiences...

And, over the years, their tricks and performances have made millions for the companies keeping them in their confinement.

But, despite their entertainment value...

There's something undeniably quite distressing about seeing such intelligent and majestic creatures forced into chlorine tanks for the sole purpose to entertain and make money for humans.

However, in 2013, people's attitudes on the matter were to change forever.

Netflix released the documentary, Blackfish, which analyzed the events leading up to the death of Sea World trainer, Dawn Brancheau, who was killed by their largest orca, Tilikum.

The documentary delved into the process of capturing young whales from the wild...

And thus showed the disgraceful treatment of all marine mammals once they are in captivity - This includes brutal training techniques, the forced separation of mothers from their calves, and even showed how staff lock up the animals in tiny, blacked-out boxes every single night.

It was a truly shocking watch.

And, shortly after the documentary's release, people instantly turned against Sea World, with even more calling to boycott any company that profits from keeping marine animals in captivity.

Ever since, the protests against the captivity of marine mammals have been growing.

More and more people are turning against these companies who, despite 4 people having died at the hands of the distressed marine mammals, continue to train and perform their whales and dolphins for profit.

Slowly, change is happening.

Last year, Canada victoriously imposed a full ban on the captivity of any whales or dolphins in the "Free Willy Bill", which also prevents any captive breeding of the mammals.

But other countries are yet to follow suit.

And this week, shocking footage has emerged showcasing the cruelty that still goes on in many parts of the world.

The video was taken at the Mont Mosan animal park in Huy, in the Liège province of Belgium.

And shows 2 seals swimming in a water attraction at the park.

Both seals appear to be towing a boat containing 3 children.

1 of the seals can be seen with a blue ring attached to its neck as it swims around a corner towing the boat.

It's a harrowing watch.

"I find it horrible what we are still doing to animals in 2020. All to entertain people and for money!" said Aaron Copette, who filmed the footage before forwarding it onto animal rights organization, C'est assez (translating to That's Enough).

He continued:

"Even if the owner of the park says he does not abuse or lock up the animals, or force them to do shows, it is still a form of abuse."

Animal rights organization, C'est Assez also released a statement regarding the clip.

The group's founder Christine Grandjean said: "You can't treat animals like that! We don't want the [park owner] to be threatened and have amended our Facebook post to ask people to be more moderate when contacting him. "We don't think he is intentionally harming the animals. Even though we have received reports that the park is insalubrious. We understand that the seals do it voluntarily, slipping into the rope lasso and pulling the boat around. But they wouldn't do it if it weren't for the fish they are given as a reward."

They added:

"These are animals that belong in the wild. They should not be used as entertainment by people."

Since being shared online on 9th August...

The footage, which has since gone viral, has understandably provoked outrage among viewers.

You can watch the shocking footage here.

For more on the devastating treatment of our marine animals, keep scrolling.