The Brutal Seal Hunt Continues

November 6, 2007

International Fund for Animal Welfare

A Better World for Animals and People

Please visit IFAW’sStoptheSealHunt Blog

In early March the ice floes of Eastern Canada are a breathtaking vision: an endless sea and sky filled with white as far as the eye can see. In one of nature’s most beautiful spectacles, hundreds of thousands of baby harp seals call out to their mothers, alone on the ice for the first time.

But then the sealing ships arrive. What was once a scene of peace and innocence becomes a makeshift factory of terror and cruelty as the ice is covered in blood. These helpless baby seals, some as young as two weeks old, are clubbed or shot to death for their fur. Many will even be skinned alive or die trapped under the ice after being injured.

IFAW hunt monitors risk their lives each year by taking to the ice to film the hunt, documenting the cruelty and sharing the truth about the seal hunt with the rest of the world.

With nearly 95,000 actions taken to help end Canada’s commercial seal hunt this past year alone, IFAW supporters like you are making a huge difference. Visit the seal blog to learn what IFAW and its supporters are doing to stop the seal hunt.

In just the last few months:

IFAW hunt monitors showed the world the tragic truth about what is happening to the hundreds of thousands of baby seals who died as a result of poor ice conditions or at the hands of sealers.

One of the largest processors of sealskins in Canada, Carino Company Limited, is offering only about half the price it paid in 2006 for top quality beater sealskins this year, stating that at the end of last year “all sales stopped”.

Austria and France declared their intention to ban the import of seal products. They join the US, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Mexico and Croatia in speaking out against Canada's cruel, unsustainable, and unnecessary slaughter of harp seal pups.

In the coming year, IFAW will continue to alert politicians and the public to the many problems with the hunt, document alleged violations of the Marine Mammal Regulations and support crucial scientific research on harp seal population issues.

The majority of Canadians are opposed to the hunting of seal pups under any circumstances. Together, we can help make their wishes come true.

Sincerely,Fred O’ReganPresident and CEO

P.S.You can also visit the StoptheSealHunt Blog to check for updates on IFAW’s campaign to end Canada’s cruel commercial seal hunt.

All gifts to IFAW represent a contribution to IFAW's entire mission. Donations will be used where they are most needed to help animals.

Worried about Donating online?I used to be too ... so I made sure our online system is safe, secure, and state-of-the-art. It also eliminates check-processing costs, so more money goes directly to saving animals. But if you prefer to donate by phone or mail, simply click here for address information.

NOTE: To make sure you continue to receive further emails from IFAW, please add fred to your email Address Book. If you use a spam filter program, please assign this address a status of “safe” or “trusted.” If you have an AOL, Hotmail, MSN or email address, this is particularly important as we receive many “bounce backs” from these email addresses.

PO Box 193 • 411 Main Street Yarmouth Port, MA 02675www.ifaw.org

AR-2Remove yourself from all mailings from IFAW United States. Peek-a-boo FREE Tricks Treats for You! Get 'em!