Slaughter at Sunrise

March 23, 2009

by Rebecca Aldworth

Sealers load a baby seal skin onto a boat. 03-23-09 © The HSUS/Loftus

Canada's commercial seal kill is underway.

This morning, sealers made their way into the harp seal nursery off Canada's east coast and began the work of clubbing to death weeks-old pups—some who haven't even learned to swim or eaten their first solid meal.

The annual commercial seal hunt has begun, and sealers will club or shoot up to 280,000 baby harp seals by the time it's over.

The animals are being killed for their fur—victims of a heartless industry that puts fashion whims before compassion.

Today the ice is awash in blood. 2008 © HSUS/Milani

Bloody Monday

Against all odds, our helicopters reached the ice floes in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, battling freezing fog and driving snow to reach the carnage.

Just weeks ago we stood on these ice floes with newborn seals. Today, the ice is awash in blood. We could see the blood and carcasses on the floes from hundreds of feet in the air. It is devastating to be here—the sadness is palpable.

Unwavering Cruelty

Most people are shocked when they first learn that a progressive nation like Canada would host an annual atrocity like the commercial seal hunt.

And yet my government is proudly telling the world that the seal kill is now humane—that changes to the Marine Mammal Regulations will ensure a humane death for seals. But nothing could be farther from the truth.

Take Action

See a list of actions you can take to help seals.

All indications are that this is the same inherently cruel slaughter it has always been. Humane Society International/Canada and The HSUS have documented this slaughter for five years—and I've witnessed it for 11—and still the cruelty is unimaginable. It's even worse to know the horrible fate that awaits so many baby seals in the coming days. 

But we're here to bear witness. We do so in the knowledge that just days ago these baby seals were still nursing from their mothers. Now, they are victims of the largest slaughter of marine mammals on Earth. And our efforts are making a difference.

Hope on the Horizon

A sealer strikes a baby seal in 2008.© HSI/Glover

The eyes of the world are on this kill—this year in particular. In weeks, the European Union will vote on a proposal to ban trade in seal products, potentially cutting off a primary market for the Canadian sealing industry.

Global Outrage

Just last week, Russia announced a complete ban on the killing of seals less than one year of age, leaving Canada to stand increasingly alone in its promotion of commercial seal slaughter.

HSI will be here to document the killing. We will bear witness until the Canadian government finally takes action to stop the slaughter for good.