Heather Visits Canadian Seal Pups and Calls For An End To Seal Hunting

In March 2006 Heather visited the Ice floes off Canada’s East coast on the Gulf of St Lawrence to observe the absolutely beautiful newborn Harp Seal pups that grace this harsh terrain. Joining Respect for Animals and the Humane Society in demanding an immediate end to the seal hunt that was only a couple of weeks away. At this time of year some of the most gorgeous looking innocent animals on earth are clubbed and shot in the most inhumane fashion imaginable to supply the vanity driven fur trade.

The Intention of this visit to the seal nursery was to attract international attention and to highlight the campaign to end the Canadian seal hunt by the closing of global markets for seal products and to heap pressure on the Canadian government to end the seal hunt once and for all.

In a statement, Heather said:

"Previous Canadian governments have allowed this heartbreaking hunt to continue despite the fact that the majority of its citizens – as well as those in Europe and America – are opposed to it."

"During the last three years alone, the Canadian government has allowed the vicious slaughter of nearly 1 million seals. 97% of the seals killed were less than 3 months of age, and the majority less than 1 month old. This animal genocide is a year on year atrocity of the Human race and this mass slaughter of innocents highlights the blinkered nature of those in power that allow such atrocities to continue. Economics before humanity and our love for the natural world must cease now before it is too late."

"A 2001 independent veterinarian report concluded that close to half of the seals examined were likely still conscious when skinned, causing 'considerable and unacceptable suffering'."

Mark Glover, Director, Respect for Animals, said: "I have observed the seal hunt at close range, it was the most brutal sight I have ever seen, with conscious seals dragged across the ice with boathooks, wounded seals left to choke on their own blood, and seals being skinned alive. The commercial seal hunt is inherently cruel – it is a national disgrace."

Disgustingly sealers kill these poor innocent pups as young as 12 days old, as soon as they have begun to moult. Their skins are then legally traded all over Europe. Opinion polls consistently show a massive overwhelming majority of Canadians, Americans and Europeans oppose the commercial seal hunt yet this vile trade continues there.

Mexico, Italy and Greenland are just the latest countries to take action to ban the trade in Canadian seal products.

Neil Trent, executive director of The Humane Society International.

"This hunt is doing incalculable damage to Canada’s name and reputation."

"Heather is shining a bright light on the extraordinary spectacle of seal pups being born on the ice floes of Atlantic Canada, and signalling to the world that the impending commercial slaughter of these helpless creatures is an appalling and unconscionable act."

To watch Heather on the Canadian Ice flows watch her 'animal activism campaigns'