Despite the coronavirus pandemic worldwide, the notoriously brutal Canadian seal hunt is still happening, and the bloodiest months are coming. Hundreds of thousands of harp seals and their babies will be beaten with barbed clubs, shot, and many will be skinned alive for their fur.
Canada’s annual seal hunt runs from mid-November to mid-May, with the highest number of animals killed—as many as 300,000 individuals—in April and May. Harp seals give birth and are still nursing their young on the ice floes off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, during this time. In just a few weeks, the serene scene of the harp seal nursery will be shattered by violent, off-season fishermen, who will mercilessly beat and shoot seals and their babies for their fur, all the while inaccurately blaming seals for the irresponsible decline in fish which the fishermen cause themselves. The mass slaughter of seals and their babies is not only sanctioned by the Canadian government, but it is also financially supported by the government to the tune of millions of Canadian taxpayer dollars.
Tragically, the hunt continues despite public pressure to stop it, polls showing that a majority of Canadians oppose the killing, as well as expert and veterinarian reviews of the hunt showing its inherent cruelty. In 2001, a study conducted by veterinarians found that as many as 42% of the slaughtered seals they examined had been skinned while conscious. In 2007, veterinarian Dr. Mary Richardson concluded that the seal hunt is inherently inhumane because of the environment in which it operates, and the speed at which the killing takes place. Yet another 2007 review of the hunt by veterinary and zoological experts concluded that the methods used to kill or render the seals unconscious (clubbing and shooting) are inhumane. Even if one animal is subjected to being skinned while fully conscious, it’s too many, and the hunt must permanently be shut down.
To make matters worse for the seals, a recent Good Morning America TV segment highlighted how climate change is now heavily impacting their breeding grounds. Increasing temperatures are causing winter ice to melt, which means smaller and smaller breeding grounds for animals, including harp seals. In as little as 75 years, there may be no ice left for them at all. With all the controversy, cruelty, and climate impacts on harp seals, the time to end the hunt is now!
What You Can Do:
Contact Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by phone and email.
1.) Make a quick and polite phone call to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at (613) 992-4211. When you call, you can say:
“It’s outrageous that the Canadian government is still propping up the private fishing industry by supporting the cruel seal hunts using Canadian taxpayer dollars. I urge you to call off the seal hunts and permanently ban the senseless and inhumane killing of Canada’s iconic seals.”
2.) Tweet at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. You can say:
It’s outrageous the Canadian government is propping up the private fishing industry by supporting the seal hunts using Canadian taxpayer dollars. Please call off the seal hunts & permanently ban the senseless and inhumane killing of Canada’s iconic seals. @JustinTrudeau @CanadianPM
3.) Canadian residents only:
Mail a postage-free letter to the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament at the following addresses. You may print and mail the letter on this page. Personalization is always encouraged.
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
AND
(Name of Member of Parliament)
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Enter your postal code to find your Member of Parliament HERE!
4.) Don’t eat fish (or other animals). Both harp seals and fish suffer immensely at the hands of fishermen. Voting with your wallet and making compassionate choices is one of the most effective things you can do. Make the switch HERE!
5) Sign In Defense of Animals’ letter which will be immediately delivered to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, HERE!
Content courtesy of In Defense of Animals. Help them continue fighting for animals, people, and the environment by making a donation HERE!
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