14 DAY TRIAL // An individual whose identity has not been shared with the public is now nearly $10,000 richer, all thanks to their agreeing to help authorities catch and convict a pair of seal killers. The reward was offered by green group Sea Shepherd.
On its website, the organization details that the person who received it had information about the people who killed 23 fur seal in New Zealand's South Island, and shared what they knew with police officers.
This made it possible for the latter to track down, arrest and punish two individuals guilty of clubbing 8 seal pups, 2 bulls and 13 females back in 2010.
“Sea Shepherd has now awarded NZ$11,500 (10,236.38 Australian dollars and 9,580.94 US dollars) to an individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, after information which they provided led to the conviction of the two individuals responsible for this act of unthinkable violence,” the organization explains.
“The reward provided by Sea Shepherd to the brave individual who stepped forward represents NZ$500 for each of the 23 lives taken,” it adds.
Of the two people involved in the killing of the 23 seals, one has been sentenced to 8 months of home detention and 200 hours of community service.
Given the fact that seals in New Zealand benefit from legal protection under New Zealand's Marine Mammals Protection Act of 1978, Sea Shepherd believes that a more severe punishment was in order.