Save the Seals

Seals are hunted for their hides, for either commercial or personal uses. Although it would seem that regulations for this are reasonably strict there are still countless reports of barbaric treatment when killing seals, including skinning the seals alive, sealers dragging seals that are not dead and still conscious across the ice floes with boat hooks and shooting seals with one shot and leaving them to die in pain since more then one shot will damage the pelt and ultimately is not worth as much.

The seal hunt in Canada is monitored by the Canadian Government and there are many regulations that exist, including specifying the minimum and maximum dimensions of clubs used and the minimum calibre of rifle and bullet velocity that can be used. However many animal welfare agencies would argue that these are not being adhered to.

Commercial hunting of infant harp seals and infant hooded seals has been banned in Canada since 1987 and only those from 12 to 15 days of age for harp seals are legally allowed to be killed. Seals may also become injured nearer to home and have been known to frequently become tangled in fishing line which can be lethal to a seal, causing a slow and painful death.

There are many charities, organisations and sanctuaries that offer help to seals in danger. Many of the larger organisations such as The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) have campaigned for years to try and put a stop to seal hunting.

These organisations seek the co-operation of the general public in their campaigning through raising the awareness of the charity, signing petitions, writing to their MP on matters and helping to raise money. It is only with the full assistance of the public that issues can begin to be changed for good.