Canada embarks on mass seal hunt
Canadian sealers have pushed out to sea for the largest cull in 50 years despite protests by environmentalists and animal rights groups.

Around 140,000 seals are expected to be slaughtered by the end of today.

The government is allowing more than 300,000 seals to be killed, arguing that the campaign is ecologically sound because “an estimated 5.2 million harp seals in the North Atlantic at present – and commercial fish stocks were vanishing.”

The IFAW says government guidelines on humane hunting methods are being ignored. “We filmed and witnessed seals being skinned alive right in front of us. We saw live seals being dragged while conscious across the ice with boat hooks; we saw stockpiles of dead and dying seals. It was really horrific.”

(found on the world famous chapel perilous)