Democratic Underground - IFAW: Shocking new footage from seal hunt refutes ‘humane hunt’ claims of Canada

Source: IFAW

IFAW: Shocking new footage from seal hunt refutes ‘humane hunt’ claims of Canadian delegation touring Europe

(Ottawa, Canada – April 4, 2008) – As Canadian government officials tour Europe in a bid to forestall an EU ban on seal products, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) released shocking new video evidence refuting the government’s claims that Canada’s commercial seal hunt has been made more humane.

Unacceptable cruelty, including wounded but conscious seals struggling in agony on the ice and the hooking and hoisting of a live seal into a boat has been documented at the hunt this week, at the very same time Canadian officials are heralding this year’s seal hunt as the most humane ever.

“The cruelty we witnessed earlier this week should not be tolerated anywhere in the world,” said Sheryl Fink, IFAW senior researcher and veteran seal hunt observer. “Once they see the evidence for themselves, it will be hard to convince Europeans that this hunt is anything other than inherently inhumane.”

Video evidence from the 2008 seal hunt clearly shows that the Canadian government’s new condition of licence - that seals should be bled out at some point ‘where possible’ - is not being followed by sealers.

“The Canadian Government can spin all the stories it wants in Europe, but our observations reveal the truth - no new condition of licence will make this hunt more humane,” said Robbie Marsland, Director of IFAW UK. “The rule is a sham and the cruelty is continuing.”

“The highly-touted condition of licence was obviously meant to convince Europeans that things have improved here in Canada. Our videos show that the new condition is not being followed, and that the rule is not being enforced. The Canadian delegation in Europe must be having a hard time explaining this one,” added Fink.

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