Photos from Russian Seal Death Camp
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 04.23.08
After Beijing's Cat Death Camps, here come the Seal version in Arkhangelsk, Russia.
Seal hunting is controversial, and there's a lot of propaganda coming from both sides. One says that there's nothing special with it, it's traditional and profitable, no big deal. The other claims it's particularly cruel, citing independent studies that show that almost 80% of sealers don't check if the seal is dead before skinning it, and that half of them get skinned alive. But regardless of where the truth lies, we think most people would minimally agree that the unnecessary suffering of sentient mammals with nervous systems similar to ours is bad, and that people who purchase products made from seals should know what their money buys so they can make an informed choice. Below are more photos from the Russian seal camp.
Here's a bit more info about both sides of the controversy.
This photo below is of a Hakapik, a heavy wooden club that combines a hammer and a hook. It is used to kill seals using the hammer side so as not to damage their skin too much.
Here are arguments from both sides:
According to recent studies done by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), the hakapik, when used properly, kills the animal quickly and painlessly. Several American studies carried out from 1969-1972 in the Pribilof Islands of Alaska came to the same conclusion. The Royal Commission on Seals and Sealing in Canada, also known as the Malouf Commission, claims that properly performed clubbing is at least as humane as the methods used in commercial slaughterhouses, and according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), these studies "have consistently proven that the club or hakapik is an efficient tool designed to kill the animal quickly and humanely."
At least as humane as the methods used in commercial slaughterhouses might not always be the best recommendation, but these studies are in favor.
On the other side we have:
A study of the 2001 Canadian seal hunt conducted by five independent veterinarians, commissioned by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), concluded that, although the hakapik is a humane means of hunting, many hunters were not using it properly. This improper use, they said, was leading to "considerable and unacceptable suffering," and in 17 percent of the cases they observed, there were no detectable lesions of the skull whatsoever.
The quotes about can be found here, with references to the studies cited.
Realistically, we don't think it's true that Hakapiks are as efficient, painless and precise as the seal hunting industry claims. From slaughterhouse workers, we have endless stories about animals that don't get killed quickly and painlessly, so it doesn't take much extrapolation to conclude that if it's not always possible to be humane in such a tightly controlled environment, it's probably even less possible for a hunter with a stick walking around on the ice.
Let us know what you think in the comments.
See also: ::Seal Hunt Embarrassment To Be "More Humane", ::Sea Shepherd Ship Captured By Canadian Coast Guard
Sounds a lot like a CAFO. ..and for some reason a LOT of Americans don't seem to have a problem with those.
We have another country / group from the dark ages who haven’t opened their eyes and minds.
Those images make me want to cry.
those poor animals don't deserve to be treated like that.
Wrong, just wrong, just look at those seals.
The last two pictures are just WRONG!!!!!!!!
=[
WTF? I don't get it. Why? This is madness....w
I don't mind when it's the alaskan tribes that do it because it's part of their culture but those pictures are ridiculous and should have no part in anyone's culture
*IF* the tools are as human as the first claim, and there is reform in the industry to teach and enforce proper technique so that the tool and it's use STAY that humane, then I really see no problem with this. It's really no different than raising cattle, sheep, goats, etc for food. The seals aren't just used for their coats, they are used for food as well.
Again, it's a big "IF".
Also, to the person who said he doesn't have a problem with it when it's the alaskan tribes and their culture. Remember slavery? That was part of american culture too. Can I own a black person just because it's part of our culture?
Eh.
The killing of these seals is terrible. Not just for the mere fact that they are being killed, but they are being tortured - skinned alive! These animals that have no means of defending themselves are being brutally tortured. For what!?
These images make me very upset and angry. It is important that as many people see them as possible. I have found more information and a way to help here: http://www.hsus.org/protect_seals.html
oh my god...that is so awful...those photos made me cry...but why not include in this article information about what products are made out of seal skin? i mean...i know i'm pretty ignorant on alot of things, but isn't lipstick made out of blubber? i mean, other than seal skin wearables, is there anything made out of seal skin? i really want to know so i can stop using it...seriously..someone tell me
Raise your hand if you eat fast food or any meat from the supermarket...
Well, that's where your meat comes from. Just replace the seals with cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, fish, you name it.
This "save the poor seals" thing is actually very funny.
YES, I AGREE THAT THE KILLING OF ANIMALS SHOULD BE DONE IN THE MOST HUMANE WAY POSSIBLE.
That being said, the world ain't gonna stop eating meat any time soon and, let's be honest about this..., would there be any protests AT ALL if these animals weren't SO CUTE.
I saw a documentary that showed killing of farm animals and it showed that, on average, it took longer for a pig in a slaughter house to die, than a seal.
Why no "save the pig" campaign?? save the poor cow campaign??
I'd support any campaign to make the killing of animals as humane as possible, but not a campaign to save ONLY THE REALLY CUTE ONES !!
Marc P.
Marc P., but there are campaigns about pigs, and other farmed animals. This one is about seal, so just because they don't do everything doesn't take away from it.
Similar to this a group called the Ocean Preservation Society is working on a film in which they find the same thing happening with dolphins in Japan. http://www.opsociety.org/the-movie/ I actually meet the Executive Producer one afternoon, very negligible person.
meh
This is obscene and inhuman. Frankly we, as so-called civilised nations, should be bringing in a trade embargo to try to prevent this. It is quite unbelievable!
As mentioned above, when alaskan tribes kill simply to feed their own people there is no problem (as with hunting of this nature globally.) But there is no way this commercial slaughter can be condoned.
If you can let us know which companies use products from seals then we can organise global boycotts of their produce, but who on earth DOES use products made from seal!!!?
Anonymous, I don't doubt what you say, but why have we not heard more about it? Why hasn't Paul McCartney gone into to a pig slaughter house with his latest girlfriend and denouced it? Why is he not out in England's farm fields denouncing in his own country treat farm animals ?? Photo ops look better with a baby seal beside him than a british cow !
He probably goes after the seal hunt because it's a lot easier to criticize something that's far away and doesn't affect people close to you, than it is to see * and change * what's going on in your own back yard. If the seal hunt was a major AMERICAN industry, I think a lot of people would put more water into their wine.
To everyone who's screaming at the top of their lungs to "end the seal hunt", would you still be yelling if your neighbor, brother, son or daughter made an honest living from this industry? If your own job depended on it? Why not stop fishing for God's sake !
I have a lot of respect for those fighting for a more humane way of killing animals but it's not always clear if people are against the fact of killing animals (period!) or the fact of killing them inhumanely. If it's the former, then I hope they're all strictly vegan. If there not, it seems a little hypocritical to me.
That's all.
Marc P.
Read:
Why is he not out in England's farm fields denouncing in his own country treat farm animals ??
Should have read:
Why is he not out in England's farm fields denouncing in his own country how farmers and the food industry treat farm animals ??
Marc P.
that's wrong, sure. but just think of the terror you've brought to Iraq's civilians.
hearth breaking. we must stop this!
hearth breaking. we must stop this!
I wonder what the fishing is like over there in Russia? If its great, maybe we should start doing that here. Heck, lets start a controlled hunting season on them critters instead. Maybe we can save our salmon population from being decimated by seals.
I'm all for saving the animals but hey I still eat meat and I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon but seeing them covered in the blood of their family and other seals just isn't right I agree with alot of the comments on here I'm white so can I go back to having a sorry (nigger) as my slave no I can't if I'm even caught making a racist remark I'm scolded for it so don't give me that crap about it being part of their history we had to change so damn maybe they should wake up to what is the 21 century and join the rest of us who have had to change and learn to be nice as we call it..
Are any of you part of the "Make the bears and wolves vegetarian foundation". I find it really cruel how a wolf can tear an animal a part and eat it while it is still alive.
"I find it really cruel how a wolf can tear an animal a part and eat it while it is still alive. "
The difference is, animals don't have a choice. We do.
Why can't we all just get along
I have a dream
That seals and man can be friends
Maybe some day
OMG! That is so bad, I would just like to say that the russians are monsterous people to have hurt such poor little animals!!!! STOP KILLING THOSE SEALS!
Yeah. It's horrible. It just leaves you aghast.
Trouble is, many who see these photos won't equate the inestimable suffering these little guys go through with the inestimable suffering of a leather cow...or a dairy cow...or a battery (egg) chicken...or a wool sheep. If you google "factory farm animal cruelty", you'll see what I mean. For every animal product we eat or own (even those labeled 'organic', 'free range', and 'natural'), we are killing our fellow earthdwellers. And we're doing it horrifically.
We don't NEED these things to survive. We DO have the power of choice. We should use that power for good.
You want to make a difference? Take the sense of outrage you feel when you look at those heartrending faces and see its reflection in your own fridge, pantry, and medicine cabinet. You don't have to call it 'vegan' if you don't want to. Just say that you were given the choice, and you chose compassion.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
- Mahatma Gandhi
The contrast of the white (baby animal) fur covered in blood is sick & unacceptable. These animals are just babies, totally innocent babies. We have no right to enslave animals of any kind.
I truly hope that these acts are punished by any law of karma.
I have to ask, is a coat that important? Any one human who thinks so should be skinned and asked again!
PROTEST.
It is a discredit to Treehugger to post an article with pictures like this. If it was rats no one would care. If it was chickens a lot fewer persons would care.
I live in Canada and eat seal flippers every year around harvest time [local, wild harvested, and according to the WWF (whom I support with monthly donations) a sustainable harvest]. It is a shame when real issues are side traced for this sort of "seals are cute we need to protect them" talk. The hunt is sustainable in Canada and the killing method humane.
In the spirit of constructive criticism here's a suggestion;
7.62mm round to the brain = instant death.
Quick, almost painless and very economical. that and it only leaves a 7.62mm hole on a part of the fur that's rarely used anyway.
And before anyone gets too riled up about what i'm suggesting, I'm vegetarian. I don't believe people should eat meat unless they've killed it themselves and are keenly aware of the suffering they put their food through. But i suppose not everyone can be made to live that way, hence the proposed alternative to whacking the poor things on the head.
Oh my goodness!!! This is the SADDEST thing ever =[ I've never been so disgusted and upset by seeing images like this before. People are so cruel!! How can someone do this to animals? =[
I think people are the animals here and should get the crap beatin out of them by one of those hammer things.
I love seals and russians which side do i choose
Can somebody help me
Ohhh My!
How do I help the poor seals?
They do not deserve to get treated like that!
Please tell me how to help... ?
looks like a lot of fun !!! i want to try!
That is just wrong those poor seals didnt do anything to deserve that :(
This story is so disconnected from what I always thought this site's goals are. Sure there are a plethora of social and political issues that need to be immediately addressed by activist sites such as this one, but each site needs to choose a singular focus and publish relevant stories with regards to that focus. I do not understand how the mistreatment of seals can fall under the auspices of a movement whose goal is to promote environmental awareness.
"I do not understand how the mistreatment of seals can fall under the auspices of a movement whose goal is to promote environmental awareness."
That environment you speak of, it includes animals, not just plants and inanimate matter.
Those people aren't human. I'm not used to this slaughtering thing cuz i'm from malaysia. We don't have seals. This article has just opened my eyes. I'm so shocked and speachless and cried when i saw the last 2 pictures.
It's disgusting that all these seals are treated so horribly just for their fur.
It's not about being cute it's a about having a fur coat that people can exploit!
Janet H., you should get some help.
"That environment you speak of, it includes animals, not just plants and inanimate matter."
The mistreatment of animals by the fur-industry has virtually no effect on the stability of our environment. To me this represents an upsetting lack of restraint with regards to prioritizing and focusing the movement as it is conveyed by this site.
That is soooo sad!!! I cannot belive that these people can skin an alive animal without feeling...they are very cold-hearted! What do they make out of the seal skins? If it's not a necessity, why must we kill these poor innocent creatures?
"It's not about being cute it's a about having a fur coat that people can exploit!"
Actually, I don't know too many details about the Russians, but I know here in Canada, it's NOT just about the fur. The Inuit use just about everything in the animal and I know even commercial hunting uses much more than just the fur.
This is just going to be an endless debate. I really like the vegetarian's comment, suggesting one quick shot to the head, instant, relatively painless death. Now that's a step toward humane killing of these animals.
I don't know how anyone who is not a strict vegetarian can in all consciousness say seals should not be hunted... and then go and have their BBQ-ed ribs.
By the way, there is an over population of seals here, in Canada... severely impacting the fisheries.
Think about that, next time you have your north Atlantic poached salmon.
Marc P.
THIS IS DISGUSTING !! LOOK AT THE TWO BABIES IN THE LAST TWO PICTURES !!! IT MAKES ME WANT TO CRY ! THIS HAS TO STOP !! DON'T EVER ASK ME WHY IT HAS TO STOP....IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT FOR YOURSELF THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING TOTALLY WRONG IN YOUR HEAD !!!
I AM FURIOUS !!!!!
"The mistreatment of animals by the fur-industry has virtually no effect on the stability of our environment. To me this represents an upsetting lack of restraint with regards to prioritizing and focusing the movement as it is conveyed by this site."
I don't think you read what that other poster said. Animals are PART of the environment. Killing them certainly has to do with the environment.
If you don't care about it, don't mention it on *your* site. TH can do whatever it wants.