10:15 P.M.
Imagine There's No Seal Hunt
by Rebecca Aldworth
As we leave Newfoundland—bringing the observation of the 2008 seal hunt to a close—I think forward to a time when this is all over.
When the skin of a baby seal has no value on the international market, and the Canadian government has finally ended the seal hunt.
Read the rest of Rebecca's journal here»
Posted April 14, 9:11 A.M.
Until It's Over
by Rebecca Aldworth
For me, the 2008 seal hunt comes down to three young seal pups huddled together on an ice pan. They lay together, fat and happy in the sun. Without warning, bullets ripped across the ice, striking two of them.
One was shot but not killed, and she began to writhe in agony, lifting her head. Another was shot and—still conscious—she slipped into the ocean, where she thrashed around as the blood poured from her. It took a lifetime for the small boat with two sealers on it to arrive.
They finally got close enough for one of the sealers to get out on the ice. He ran over to the wounded pup, clubbed her on the head, then tossed her onto a pile of dead seals in the boat like garbage. She was quickly sliced open and skinned, her carcass cut out and thrown over the side of the boat.
The wounded seal in the water was still thrashing around, blood coloring everything around her. A sealer leaned over the side of the boat, stabbed her through the flipper with a metal hook, and dragged her close to the boat.
Then he reached down and grabbed her by the flipper, hauled her onto the boat and tossed her onto the pile of dead seals. She was likely still conscious, but he didn't check, and he didn't club her to finish her off. Instead, he flipped her over and cut her from top to bottom.
But for me, the 2008 seal hunt is also about the third seal, the lucky one who got away. He slipped into the water as the bullets flew by, and swam off as fast as he could. He was spared, just like thousands more who will not be killed this year because global markets for seal products are closing.
Because prices for the skin of a baby seal have fallen dramatically, and many sealers are choosing to stay home this year instead of heading for the ice floes. The manager from a top sealskin processor in Canada explained that buyers have been mindful of a potential EU ban on seal products when setting the low prices this year. Just the potential for an EU ban has brought the prices down low enough to stop two thirds of the sealing vessels from leaving port.
If the EU goes through with the ban, millions of animals will be spared a horrible fate. Our campaign is working. But while this hunt goes on, we will be here. Bearing witness to this cruel slaughter, gathering evidence to shut this hunt down for good. Please help pass the ban—sign the petition here.
Posted April 13, 10:10 A.M.
Undeniably Inhumane
by Rebecca Aldworth
Words cannot describe the cruelty I witnessed yesterday. As I write this, I am finding it hard to see through tears. The boats were everywhere. Sealers clubbed and shot helpless baby seals, every one in sight.
We filmed one boat and noticed a sealer at the front of the vessel holding a rifle. We quickly zoomed ahead to see which seal he was aiming at. As we looked through the monitor, we saw the pup about 50 meters in front of the boat. She raised her head as if sensing danger, when suddenly a bullet slammed into her side.
She cried and cried—clearly in agony—and blood spilled onto the ice. Finally, the sealer arrived. The pup looked up pitifully, as though she hoped this person could offer help.
But instead, he clubbed her once on the head and—without testing to see if she was unconscious—stabbed her through the jaw with a metal hook and dragged her across the ice.
She was just one month old. Above in our helicopter, we watched in horror.
There was blood all across the ice. Trails of it leading back to the boats, massive bloody pools of it the only remains of slaughtered baby seals. In some areas, the ocean near the boats turned red, clearly visible from 1000 feet in the air.
The sealers did not want us to film them abandoning the carcasses—so just as they did last year, they brought them on board the boats. We filmed stockpiles of hundreds of dead seals on the decks, which were awash in blood.
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| The HSUS/Glover |
|
Sealers often didn't even test for unconsciousness before
hooking the pups and dragging them across the ice. |
Whenever the sealers thought we were too far to film, they tossed the red, skinned bodies over the side.
The Canadian government has made a concerted effort to convince European decision-makers that this hunt is now somehow humane.
But their carefully crafted PR lines cannot refute the evidence we gathered today. Any human being who watches our footage will understand this slaughter simply has to end—and those who cash in by promoting it should be deeply ashamed.
I grew up in this province, and it has been difficult at times to take the stand I do. But there is a line between right and wrong, and it becomes crystal clear when you observe the slaughter of defenseless seal pups.
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| The HSUS/Mark Glover |
"Any human being who watches our footage will understand
this slaughter simply has to end." |
I remember a pilot I worked with a few years ago, who was born in Newfoundland and raised in a fishing community.
He reluctantly agreed to fly for us, and he made it clear that he was strongly in favor of the seal hunt. It took one day of filming the slaughter for him to change his mind.
The thing is, once you have seen it you can never support it. And having seen it for ten years, we will not rest until Canada's commercial seal hunt is ended for good.
Posted April 12, 10:33 A.M.
At the Ready
by Rebecca Aldworth
This morning brings more bad weather here in Newfoundland and the news we may be grounded for at least the first few hours of today.
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| The HSUS |
| Killing fields, 04-11-08 |
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans reports 2350 seals were killed yesterday in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and as of today, 61 vessels have hailed out for the that area.
This morning, half an hour before dawn, the hunt in the Front went ahead, with another 130 vessels hailing out. Today, the seals do not stand a chance. It is horrible to know that seal pups are being killed right now and we are unable to be there to bear witness. But the weather is changing by the minute, and we are told our chances of flying this afternoon look much better. We'll be ready as soon as the weather permits us to fly.
Yesterday's images were heartbreaking. No matter how the PR people in the Canadian government try to spin it, watching this slaughter confirms what we already know to be the case—this hunt involves a level of cruelty no compassionate person could ever accept. If we are to call ourselves a progressive nation, Canada must end this, and end it now.
Posted April 11, 10:30 P.M.
No Escape for Seal Pups
by Rebecca Aldworth
The ProtectSeals team flew through heavy fog, high winds and blowing snow to reach the sealing vessels. Eleven were still trapped in the ice floes—a Coast Guard icebreaker nearby attempting to cut a path for them. For a moment we dared to hope the seals were still safe.
But farther north, we found more boats working their way through the ice, killing every seal pup in their wake. As we passed one large red vessel, we saw sealers jump off the side onto the ice. They ran towards a single live seal pup, hakapiks in hand.
The pup, sensing danger, tried desperately to crawl towards the edge of the water. But the two men bearing down on her were faster. One sealer struck her on the side, then twice again on the head. He grabbed her hind flippers and pulled her back across the ice, stopping to club her twice more. He grabbed her front flipper and turned her over.
But then the second sealer kicked the wounded pup with his boot. Seeing a reaction, he motioned to the first sealer, who clubbed her four more times on the head. Not to be outdone, the second sealer grabbed his hakapik and clubbed the baby seal once more. He flipped her over and began to cut her open—only to roll her back over so the first sealer could club her three more times. This poor baby seal was clubbed thirteen times in total.
The sealers finally sliced open the pup, then dragged her the long distance back the boat. On board the vessel, they cut out her carcass and threw it overboard. We watched miserably from our helicopters, helpless to do anything to stop her suffering.
This was a brutal scene—and one that I have witnessed too many times in the ten years I have been out here documenting the slaughter. Tomorrow, we go back to document the second day of the hunt for seals in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Please stand with us as we gather the evidence we need to shut this brutal slaughter down forever.
Posted April 11, 10:35 A.M.
Searching for Ships
by Rebecca Aldworth
Yesterday afternoon we flew over the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence in search of sealing boats. To be in position to kill seals this morning, they had to move from their ports, through the ice.
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| The HSUS |
| Cutting a path through the ice toward the seal herds. |
As our spotter plane moved over the western coast of Newfoundland, we saw nothing but open water. Last year, the ice at this time was abundant up here.
But this year, there is so little. We flew for nearly an hour before we saw it—a small dot on the horizon and a thin strip of white of ice in the distance.
We immediately went toward it, and as we drew closer, the dot turned into a Coast Guard boat. Behind it, eleven smaller vessels became quickly apparent. Within minutes we saw another eight boats, just a few miles away. Half an hour of flying later, and we'd located another 11 ... 30 vessels in total. Two large coast guard vessels assisted the sealing boats, cutting them a path through the ice toward the seal herds.
About an hour later, we saw some seals, blissfully unaware of the boats bearing down on them. It is heartbreaking to know that right now, the sealing vessels have likely reached those pups. This morning we are very frustrated. The weather has turned bad, and freezing rain and fog may keep our helicopter from the hunt area.
But it will not stop the sealers from killing baby seals. We have to try to get out there, and in half an hour our helicopter will leave for the hunt area. If we can get through the bad weather, we will document the brutality that will happen on the ice floes today.
Posted April 10, 8:40 A.M.
Back to the Hunt
by Rebecca Aldworth
While Canada's commercial seal hunt continues into its third week, we can take some comfort in the fact that many of the baby seals have so far been spared the hunters' clubs and guns.
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| The HSUS/Milani |
| Sealing vessels lined up for the start of the hunt. |
The Canadian government has reported that 2,900 seals have been killed to date—far less than would have been by this time in a normal year.
But today everything will change.
Read the rest of Rebecca's journal here»
Posted April 1, 5:40 A.M.
The Slaughter Continues
by Rebecca Aldworth
The merciless slaughter of baby seals continued yesterday in the Cabot Strait, with countless pups cruelly clubbed to death for their skins.
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| Nigel Barker LLC |
| Ice floes, one after the other, stained with red blood. |
We flew toward where the sealing boats were killing every seal pup in their path.
Miles away from them, we saw the grim evidence of their activity over the morning—ice floes, one after the other, stained red with blood.
In its ongoing effort to block documentation of the hunt, the Canadian government authorized only one of our helicopters to film the hunt, preventing journalists and animal protection groups from reaching the scene of the slaughter.
We stayed away so that at least some reporters could film the killing. And the photographs they brought back stopped me cold.
We landed outside the hunt zone in an area where the ice was so solid the sealing boats could not break their way through to the pups. It was one of those magical scenes that can sometimes occur close to the carnage—baby seals just about three weeks old, lying next to each other on a pristine floe. Our group fell silent as we watched these beautiful animals interact with each other. One of our team had never been on the ice before, and she said it was the best day of her life.
But miles away, the sealing vessels loomed ominously, a reminder of the horror to come. And the thought of what awaits these defenseless pups is unbearable.
Thankfully, the slaughter closes today for the Maritimes vessels, which have reached their quota. But the killing will dramatically intensify in the coming days as the Newfoundland hunters come into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Then, they will club and shoot every seal pup they find.
The Canadian government has done everything in its power to stop us from documenting the seal hunt so far. But it has failed. We'll be here, ready to bear witness as the slaughter continues.
Posted March 30, 9 P.M.
Now Is the Time
by Rebecca Aldworth
In any huntwatch expedition, there are seemingly insurmountable obstacles to overcome. Each day we try to document the slaughter, the Canadian government comes up with new tactics to cover up the cruelty.
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| Marcus Gyger |
| A pup just days before the hunt. |
Today's ploy was to award observation permits to only one of our helicopters.
I doubt it is any coincidence that this move followed our documentation yesterday, which showed sealers consistently violating the few regulations that exist to protect seals.
Right now, the commercial seal hunt is on trial around the world. Never has there been as critical a time for the Canadian government to hide the cruelty as there is in the next few weeks. With the eyes of the world on Canada's slaughter of baby seals, the Canadian government will take every step available to systematically stop us from filming the killing.
But it won't work. While this hunt goes on, we will be here to document it. I want to thank every HSUS member for standing with us as we work to save the seals. It is your support that allows us to be here right now, and never has there been a more important time for us to bear witness to the commercial seal hunt. With your help, we will shut down the killing of defenseless baby seals forever.
Posted March 29, 11:59 P.M.
Bearing Witness
by Rebecca Aldworth
Today I saw defenseless baby seals slaughtered without mercy on Canada's ice floes. It is with a very heavy heart that I write this, following eight unbearable hours of bearing witness to the slaughter.
I understand why the Canadian government has fought so hard to stop us from observing the hunt this year…While the my government is busy telling the world that this year’s slaughter will somehow be more humane, we have proved today it is the same hunt we have always filmed.
Read the rest of Rebecca's journal here»
Posted March 28, 4:30 P.M.
Unwanted Observers
by Rebecca Aldworth
Once again, the Canadian government is doing everything in its power to block documentation of the commercial seal hunt. Today, as sealers maneuvered their vessels through the ice floes, searching out baby seals, our permitting nightmare continued. We received a call from fisheries officials at 10 a.m., informing us we would receive permits to observe the seal hunt for the day. However, two hours later as we waited in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans office, we still had no permits in hand. As the weather worsened, it became clear our window of opportunity to document the hunt this afternoon was closing fast.
Read the rest of Rebecca's journal here»
Posted March 27, 3:46 P.M.
No Cameras Permitted
by Rebecca Aldworth
Today brings unbelievable news. Twelve sealing vessels have already left the Magdalen Islands, and many more are gearing up to go later today so they can be in position to kill baby seals when the hunt opens half an hour before dawn tomorrow. Yet at this time—less than 16 hours before the seal hunt will begin—the Canadian government is refusing to issue observation permits for tomorrow morning to anyone, including journalists.
Read the rest of Rebecca's journal here»
Watch the video»
Posted March 26, 3:48 P.M.
The Beginning of the End
by Rebecca Aldworth
There are days on the ice floes that are so perfect, you almost can't believe they are real. Yesterday was one of those, and I'll remember it forever.
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| Marcus Gyger |
| 275,000 pups like these will die, starting Friday. |
In the past few weeks, the ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence has broken up, then frozen back together.
The resulting landscape of the harp seal nursery is spectacular, with ice ridges and outcroppings everywhere.
The sun sets off brilliant hues of blue and purple all across the ice.
We landed in an area off the coast of Cape Breton, where hundreds of seals awaited us. The pups were very young—some covered in white fur—others just starting to shed their white coats. Still more had entirely shed their white fur, revealing the silvery coat underneath. All looked up at us with their liquid black eyes.
Nigel Barker and his team were with us photographing the baby seals, along with journalists from Europe, and Vera Weber, representing the Franz Weber Foundation in Switzerland. We walked from our helicopters to the pups, trying not to think about the fact that the hunt is rumored to begin in a few days time.
I explained to everyone that if you lie on the ice quietly with the seals, look at them and blink your eyes repeatedly, the pups will mimic you—and often fall asleep. While everyone was busy taking their photos, I spotted two beautiful seal pups across the ice.
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| Marcus Gyger |
Rebecca Aldworth has been documenting the seal hunt
for 10 years. |
I lay down a few feet from them and closed my eyes. They repeated the gesture. After doing this a few times, the seals were fast asleep. And so was I!
When I woke, the pups were huddled together just inches away from me. My two new friends woke as well, staring at me curiously. One slid across the ice to me, taking a moment to smell my face before he moved on.
One of the most tragic things about the seal hunt is the advantage held by the sealers. Not only are these pups just days of age and utterly defenseless, but they are absolutely trusting of people. The sealers betray that trust in the worst possible way.
I looked over across the ice, and saw one very young seal crawl up to Nigel's camera, staring at him in fascination as he took her photo. It never ceases to amaze me how charismatic these newborn seals are—and how utterly peaceful the ice floes can be.
One European journalist came up and said how spectacular the environment was, that he wanted to stay for the entire day. He believes many Europeans would want to visit this place.
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| Marcus Gyger |
"It never ceases to amaze me how charismatic
these newborn seals are." |
As we flew back—so moved and motivated by the visit—Vera Weber mentioned that the hat she was wearing had been worn by her father 31 years ago when he came to Canada to bear witness to the commercial seal hunt.
I was reminded that this campaign has been waged all over the world for more than four decades, and that we are following in the footsteps of some very compassionate and brave people.
We landed at our hangar, and my phone began to ring immediately. The HSUS had just received the news—the hunt would begin at dawn on March 28. The news hit me like a physical blow. These same pups we had just spent a beautiful day with are directly in the path of the sealing boats. They will not survive this hunt.
This morning brought more bad news. At noon today, the sealing vessels left the Magdalen Islands for the slaughter. Please help us stop this hunt once and for all. To learn more, watch my video journal below, and click here to help seals.
Posted March 25, 3 P.M.
Heartbreak and Hope as the Hunt Looms
by Rebecca Aldworth
Yesterday, we returned to the harp seal nursery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence—our final visit before we bear witness to the horrific slaughter that is about to take place in just a few short days.
We lay on the ice with four small pups, two of them almost entirely covered in white fur. In the background, the stark landscape of Cape Breton sets off the brilliant ice.
One pup—molting her white coat—tries to scratch her back by wriggling around across the ice. She ends up just feet away, gazing up at us sweetly.
She is completely unaware that just a few miles away in the Magdalen Islands harbor, sealing boats are lined up, ready to depart for the hunt. In days, the mechanical roar of their engines will overtake the silence of the ice, and their decks will be awash in blood.
Our hearts were heavy as we stared into the pups’ innocent faces.
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| The HSUS/Milani |
| Most of the seals pups slaughtered are less than 3 months old. |
Very soon, their beautiful icy home will be transformed into an open air slaughterhouse and—despite our best efforts—we have not stopped it from going forward. I find myself apologizing to pups, knowing my words are meaningless in the face of the suffering they will endure.
But there is also hope—perhaps more this year than any before. Hope because there is a strong chance the European Union may ban seal products, and American seafood distributors are joining our boycott of Canadian seafood products. With odds against them mounting, the sealers are now saying that hunting seals may cost them more than it is worth.
Please stand with us as we bear witness to this hunt. Click here for daily updates and images from the slaughter. We cannot end this hunt without you. Please be a part of our expedition to save the seals.
