Victory For Seals: Russia Bans Baby Seal Hunt

Victory For Seals: Russia Bans Baby Seal Hunt

(Moscow, Russia – 19 March 2009) – After 15 years of campaigning against the Russian seal hunt, IFAW (The International Fund for Animal Welfare) applauds yesterday’s announcement by Yuriy Trutnev, Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology, of a complete ban on hunting of all harp seals less than one year of age.

“The bloody seal slaughter, the killing of the defenceless animals, which can’t be even called a ‘hunt,’ is now prohibited in Russia as it is in most developed countries. It is a serious step towards the conservation of biodiversity in Russia,” said Minister Trutnev.

“We are overwhelmingly pleased that the Russian government has finally completed its pledge to protect harp seals,” said Masha Vorontsova, Director of IFAW Russia.

Thanks to IFAW’s and other NGO’s efforts Russian opposition to the harp seal hunt has grown considerably in the last year. Public outcry led to mounting pressure on the government of Russia to formally address the need to close the harp seal hunt.

“NGOs actively upheld their position against this hunt, raised public awareness and by all means contributed to the passage of ban on the seal hunt in Russia,” Minister Trutney said.

This historic end to Russia’s harp seal hunt was welcomed by IFAW which works throughout the world to put an end to commercial seal hunts.

“The time has now come for the Canadian government to follow suit and end their cruel hunt for harp seals once and for all,” Ms Vorontsova said.

“These hunts are unnecessary – they are merely supporting the trade in fur used for non-essential fashion items.”

Later this month, Canada’s commercial seal hunt will begin off the east coast of Canada. Last year, more than 217,000 harp seals were killed, 99.8 per cent of which were under three months of age.

ENDS

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