MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - April 11, 2011) -
Note to editors: A photo is included with this press release on Marketwire's website.
"Sealers are flagrantly violating the few, inadequate rules that exist to protect seals," said Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of Humane Society International/Canada. Baby seals are being brutally clubbed and shot to death in front of us. Sealers are impaling baby seals on metal hooks and dragging them onto their boats without even checking to make sure they are unconscious. The prices for seal fur are declining, but the cruelty at the slaughter is increasing. The decks of the boats and the ice floes surrounding them are awash in blood. This is some of the worst cruelty I have witnessed in the 13 years I have observed the commercial seal slaughter in Canada."
| WHAT: | Canada's commercial seal slaughter opened in the "front" half an hour before sunrise on Monday, April 11. Humane Society International/Canada is on location to document Canada's 2011 commercial seal slaughter. Broadcast quality video and stills will be available for media download. |
| WHERE: | The "front" (waters northeast of Newfoundland, Canada). |
| WHO: | Rebecca Aldworth, Newfoundland native and executive director of Humane Society International Canada has witnessed the seal slaughter for the past 13 years. |
| HOW: | Please click on the link below and sign in with the following username and password. |
| www.humanesociety.org/photolibrary | |
| Username: SealHunt2011 | |
| Password: HSIPhotos! | |
| To download an image, click on the download icon located at the top of each image. (Please insert copyright language and instructions on how to font HSI or HSUS.) | |
| Background: | A record low sea ice formation off of Canada's east coast is resulting in exceptionally high pup mortality this year. Unmoved by the mass seal pup mortalities, the Canadian government has raised the seal quota by 80,000. This year, sealers will be allowed to slaughter 468,200 seals—the highest seal quota in Canadian history. Unbelievably, the few seal pups who have survived the ice disaster may now be beaten and shot to death for their fur. However, with prices for seal fur in Canada remaining low this year, reduced participation in the seal hunt is expected. |
Humane Society International/Canada is a leading force for animal protection, representing tens of thousands of members and constituents across the country. HSI Canada has active programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammal preservation and farm animal welfare. HSI Canada is proud to be a part of Humane Society International—one of the largest animal protection organizations in the world, with more than 11 million members and constituents globally—On the Web at hsicanada.ca.
To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20110411-HumaneSociety_800.jpg
Contact Information:
Dean Pogas
514-261-6007
dpogas@hsi.org
Humane Society International
Heather Sullivan
240-477-2251
hsullivan@humanesociety.org