Canadians Bloody Seal Hunt | Teen Ink

Canadians Bloody Seal Hunt

February 9, 2010
By ♥megz♥ BRONZE, Cannington, Other
♥megz♥ BRONZE, Cannington, Other
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment

They’re famously known for their black eyes, and their fluffy white fur coats. Sadly, these harp seals are the victims of the yearly blood thirsty Canadian seal hunt.

I am a vegetarian, and I am also a proud supporter of People Against The Ethical Treatment of Animals. I acknowledge their efforts towards trying to stop the seal hunt at the 2010 Olympics.









According to Sea Shepherd, It is said that there’s a quota on the amount of seals allowed to be slaughtered, however, the percentage has increased each year . In 2000, 92,000 were slaughtered. In 2001, the number rose to 226,000. Then in 2002, the worst year for seals slaughtered had been raised to 312,000 even though the quota had been 275,000. Instead of legal violations for exceeding the number of seals killed, the government will increase the kill quota to 75,000. This year, the government has intended for 325,000 to be killed along with an additional 10,000 for the aboriginal allowance.










There is no excuse in unnecessary cruelty, especially when it’s toward harmless animals. If Harp seals are characterized as being gentle, then why must they be killed inhumanely? According to the International Fund For Animal Welfare, hunters approach the seals with long sticks and a blade attached to the end, then repeatedly beat them. If the seals are still blinking, then the hunter will kick it in the face and continue to beat them with the stick. An analysis performed by veterinarians, had concluded that 40% of the seals are skinned alive. Seal pups are also victims. At less then three months, a seal who’s hardly able to fend for survival is killed. Unable to swim, the pup can’t escape the club.










Canadians are generally depicted as being friendly and kind people. Known for it’s sweet taste, it only makes sense why Canada is known for it’s famous national product, maple syrup. Though with the seal hunt, will Canada’s new national identity become seal? Fisheries Minister Gail Shea , is in full support for our Canadian team to be wearing seal skin uniforms at the 2010 Olympic Games. Will Canada become recognized as the slaughterhouse country? Will Canadians be looked down upon as mean blood thirsty killing machines?








Evidently, I am against the seal hunt. However, the Canadian Government online, has the positive side. The seal hunt is a critical way of life to more then 6,000 sealers in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and the North. For most, this is the annual income for their family which can be as much as $25,000. Canada is famously known for it’s annual seal hunt as it remains an important part of Canadian culture. Seals can provide food, fuel, clothing and shelter.









It’s either a win or lose choice, the government will immediately end it’s slaughter this year, or, it can continue to upset Canadians and get a bad reputation from other countries.

The author's comments:
I'm a member of PETA, and I care deeply about the rights of animals. I feel that this hunt needs to be stopped!

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This article has 1 comment.


Gnome said...
on Mar. 31 2010 at 9:49 pm

First off I am not going to say that I am necessarily for the seal hunt but I would just like to get some facts straight.

 

I also am a supporter of animal rights but there is always the question of what is right.

 

First off I would like to know if you are getting your information from PETA. Much of their information is incorrect and is used to incite pity, however this undermines their cause as a lot of it is simply sensationalised and reduces their credibility as activists. Or perhaps the Humane Society of the United States who although some of their information is factual is also so opinionated that it influences your opinion (yes they hire people who are experts at turning a phrase every business… woops I mean activist group, does)?  

 

On your first point the numbers you have mentioned are indeed accurate and I can tell you have put some research into this (well done most people don’t) however you make it seem like there is a fixed number of seals, as the number hunted allowed goes up so does the population of the seals. It is not decreasing the number of seals from the year before it simply is keeping it at a balance.  

 

The sticks you mention are called hakapik: a heavy wooden club with a hammer head and metal hook on the end. The hakapik is used because of its efficiency; the animal can be killed quickly without damage to its pelt. The hammer head is used to crush the skull, while the hook is used to move the carcass. Regulations demand that you use one if the firearm does not entirely kill the animal it generally is a more humane way to kill them due to the development of their skulls at the time (soft). Speaking of age Whitecoats are newborn harp seals. Most Canadians can recall pictures of whitecoated seal pups being clubbed. The images were so inflammatory that Canada banned all hunting of whitecoats and bluebacks (otherwise known as hooded seals) in 1987.

You'd never know that from some of the anti-sealing groups that still prominently display pictures of whitecoats on their websites and in fundraising materials. One site even features a downloadable video of people hugging whitecoats. The reality is that whitecoats can't be hunted anymore.

It's also true that young harp seals lose their white coats (and their protection) at about 12 to 14 days of age. After that, they're fair game for hunters, although they're usually about 25 days old before they're hunted. Most harp seals taken are under the age of three months. Young yes, whitecoats no.

Notice the word I used – carcass – the seal is dead. Kicking is not used and would not be effective in the slightest due to the fat content of the seal. In other words no they do not skin the seals live, nor do they do anything with them while the seal has any conscious at all.  Have you ever skinned anything? I have never skinned something alive and never would but it’s hard enough dead – there would be no point and therefore it makes no sense on an economic level time wasted is money wasted. As well as this Regarding the "skinning alive" charge, the appearances can be deceiving. Sometimes a seal may appear to be moving after it has been killed. However, seals have a swimming reflex that is active, even after death. This reflex falsely appears as though the animal is still alive when it is clearly dead — similar to the reflex in chickens or fish.

 

Your point on the veterinarians is crock, I am sorry but people are not doing this all for fun ( of course some enjoy it, hunting is a social activity) but it is a business there are no veterinarians checking every seal to see whether or not it was skinned alive or dead and you cannot arrive at any sort of realistic or reliable statistic without at least the body of every seal killed. Even then the information would not be infallible.

 

I am glad that at the end you added the part about Canadian culture because yes it is important but as for our reputation in the world for being “peace loving” and all that the only reason the European Union decided against seal imports from Canada was because of the bad press, until then they had been the recipients of up to 25% of our exports.

 

No I don’t hunt but neither am I a vegetarian. I love my pets they are my family but they are not human and I will not treat them as such. I like to know the good and the bad but I dislike sensationalism on either side. And I am for the animals, I despise unnecessary torture and if the seal hunts were that bad I too would be up in arms. Thank you for your time.