A resolution urging the Canadian government to end the commercial seal hunt has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) and Christopher Shays (R-Conn.). The Humane Society of the United States urges quick adoption of the resolution.
"Canada's commercial seal hunt is the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The HSUS. "Hundreds of thousands of baby seals are killed for their fur every year. We are grateful to Congressman Lantos and Congressman Shays for introducing this resolution, and for calling on the Canadian government to stop this cruel massacre."
The resolution, H. Res. 427, notes that more than one million seals have been killed over the past three years and that in the last five years, 95 percent of the seals killed were between 12 days and 12 weeks of age, many of them too young to have eaten their first solid meal or taken their first swim.
"This deeply inhumane practice is far beneath the dignity of the people of Canada," said Rep. Lantos, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee, where the resolution has been referred. "There is no real good reason to let this needless slaughter continue, and every reason to put it to a stop. We call on the Canadian government to suspend the hunt in the waters off the east coast of Canada now and forever."
"I am committed to animal welfare because I believe humankind has an obligation to all animals," said Rep. Shays. "I oppose the cruel practice of killing hundreds of thousands of young seals, as well as the environmental impact of this practice. Some species have become our companions and some play important roles in sensitive ecosystems. It is our duty to protect and care for all of these animals."
In March, U.S. Senators Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) also introduced a resolution, S. Res. 118, calling for the end of the hunt. That resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
FACTS:
- Canada's commercial seal hunt is the world's largest slaughter of marine mammals, with more than one million seals killed in the past three years.
- Well over 95 percent of the seals killed each year are under 3 months old.
Hunters kill the seals for their skins, which are sold to the fashion industry in Europe and Asia. The bloody carcasses are left behind on the ice. - An independent panel of veterinary experts performed post mortems on seal carcasses at the hunt in 2001. In 42% of cases they studied, they concluded the seal did not show enough evidence of cranial injury to even guarantee unconsciousness
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