lawmurray's Flickr photostream/Creative Commons

Most tourists who flock to Namibia’s Cape Cross Seal Reserve are probably unaware that only hours prior to their visit, many of the seals that have made the coastline a famous destination have been clubbed to death as part of an annual culling of seal pups for the international fur trade.

The slaughter takes place in secret and is sanctioned by the Namibian government, supposedly to protect fish stocks. But increasingly journalists and animal welfare groups are stepping up efforts to uncover and end the brutal killings, including secretly filming the event and even buying an Australian fur company out of the hunt.

Similar to the undercover efforts in The Cove, aimed at exposing the dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan, reporters have been attempting to capture the slaughter on camera to raise public awareness of the issue.   Two men were arrested and allegedly beaten by seal hunters earlier this year for attempting to film the cull, and now a new video has been released that captures the vicious commercial hunt.  You can watch the video below and use the “Act” link below to learn more about efforts to end the hunt.

Warning: Video Contains Graphic Images