A huge victory for environmentalists and animal rights activists occurred in South Africa on Thursday. A judge in Makhanda banned oil exploration off the Indian coastline using high amplitude sound waves setting aside a 2014 decision granting exploration rights. Shell Oil did not immediately announce that it would appeal the verdict, saying only that it respects the court's decision and its roll "in a just energy transition". A environmental action group that filed suit against Shell said the decision once again vindicates "civil society and traditional communities". The giant international petroleum firm was set to begin seismic surveys over 2300 sq. miles of ocean off South Africa's Wild Coast that is habitat for numerous species of marine life including marine mammals that use bio sonar to forage and find other members of their group. Environmentalists argued that extremely loud shock waves every ten seconds 24/7 for five months would disrupt normal animal behavior and potentially kill some species. Despite the danger to wildlife, the South African energy ministry supported the exploration project, criticizing those who opposed the project as thwarting the country's economic development.
