:: Action Against Poisoning :: EUROPEAN UNION :: RUSSIA POISONING BABY SEALS FOR FUR dec05 ::
RUSSIA BABY SEALS
FORGOTTEN BABY SEALS IN RUSSIA
The attached pictures 0002 and 0003 show seal pups which have been taken from the ice, and which have been netted ready for airlifting to seal farms at which they are given no food; they often try to suckle each other.
They will be held until their coats reach the 'better' stage; turning a soft silver-grey with spots. They are killed by injection; using Dithyllinum; which is a curariform drug which produces death by immobilising the skeletal respiratory muscles, causing fatal suffocation.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends that "the use of this drug to produce euthanasia is strongly condemned !!"
Despite many years of campaigning to try and prevent the annual seal pup hunt in the White Sea region of Russia, Kent based spearheading group European Animal Welfare (EAW) supported by North Kent Animal Welfare (NKAW) are still largely hitting a brick wall when it comes to getting the EU to act.
Stavros Dimas, Member of the European Commission; europa.eu.int/comm/commission_barroso/dimas/index_en.htm has been promising EU action on the Russian seal hunt for a long time now. To date, and after discussions between EAW and NKAW, the feeling is very much that Mr. Dimas is a man of many words and very little action when it comes to fighting for the lives of Russian seal pups. Please note that we are
talking seal pups, mere babies born every Spring; and unfortunately, killed that very same Spring.
With the 2006 hunting season on the horizon, we feel that once again it is time to have to ask caring people to contact their MEPs and ask them to write to Mr. Dimas to ascertain when something is actually going to be done by the EU to stop the
murder of seal pups in Russia. To find MEPs for your region, go to www.writetothem.com/ and follow the simple instructions.
A draft letter which can be copied and pasted follows.
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Mr. Dimas,
I understand that in your frequent correspondence with Uk based European Animal Welfare (EAW) and North Kent Animal Welfare (NKAW); you have often quoted that "EU-Russian Summits have agreed to strengthen co-operation with Russia on a wide range of issues". In May 2005 you stated to NKAW that "The Commission is ready to raise the issue of the seal pup hunt again with Russia". In a September 2005 letter to EAW, you state that "we (the EU) are aiming at holding technical meeting concerning the issue with the Russian authorities in the near future".
I have since learned from your letter to EAW of 22nd November 2005, no further meetings of the EU-Russia Partnership and Co-operation Agreement Sub-Committee on Energy, Environment and Nuclear safety have been held since September 2001. I understand that it is through this agreement that the issue of the seal hunts is raised. You state in your letter that "In any
future revitalisation of the environment dialogue with Russia, the agenda for technical meetings will be drawn up in agreement with the Russian authorities; and .... the seal hunt is one of the issues that will be considered for such an agenda, alongside other predominant issues such as climate change.
In the period 2001 to 2005, approximately 123, 234 baby seal pups have been murdered by the Russians; either directly on the ice or transported to 'Seal Farms' where they are held until their fur reaches the required quality and where they are killed by lethal injection under the flipper.
I consider that the killing of baby seals just a mere week or two old IS a dominant issue which should be raised and discussed with the Russian authorities at every possible chance; regardless of how it is done; and not just held as a future 'hope' that there will be some re-vitalisation of environmental issues with Russia. I would be grateful if you would consider my utmost disappointment that you as the EU representative with the Russian authorities have failed to bring the Russian seal hunt further up the Agenda at any such meeting(s) in the past, and trust that they will be placed HIGH on the agenda at any future meetings. I now have no option but to contact my MEP(s) and ask them to raise the issue of the EU failing to try and prevent the Russian seal hunt at every opportunity they will have within their term at the EU Parliament.
I would like EU action with Russia on this Mr. Dimas, not just verbal statements which amount to nothing over several years.
I trust that I will hear from you on this specific issue in the very near future; hopefully before the 2006 slaughter commences in the Spring of next year.
Yours Sincerely
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Thanks for all your support on the campaign to stop the Russian Seal Pup Hunt; routine information is hard for us to come by; but we do expect the EU to fight our corner here, for EU Citizens concerned about animal welfare, especially where the lives of tens of thousands of seal pups are concerned each and every year.
Regards (for the pups of Russia)
Robert (EAW) and Mark (NKAW) - Kent, England, Uk.
We would like to express our deepest concerns regarding the Seal pup hunting and Seal Farming which will take place this March and April in the Arkangelsk, White Sea region of Russia.
The number of baby seal pups slaughtered has more than doubled over the last ten years from 18,183 in 1992 to the recent figures of 39,111 in 2001 and 37,936 in 2003. These thousands of 9 to 12 day old baby seals are murdered solely for their fur; and they are killed in the most inhumane manner by being clubbed to death on the ice.
We understand that the capture of young pups for seal farming takes place in the region; where if not killed on the ice, or if the allocated hunt quota is reached, the young pups are placed in individual nets; then arranged into groups of around 50, and airlifted by chartered helicopter (costing $1000 per hour) to the seal farms located in areas such as Koida. Seal farming in this region is common and places a great deal more stress on the pups than direct killing on the ice. Placed into holding pens; the pups are not fed during their confinement and they are often known to try and suckle each other for the much wanted milk. The pups succumb to disease due to stress and overcrowding, often indicated by bleeding at the mouth; something never seen in the wild.
On the farms, 24 hour guards are employed. When their coats reach the correct stage for processing, pups are killed in batches of around 50 animals by being injected under the flipper with Dithyllinum, a drug which has been condemned by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dithyllinum is supposed to cause death by immobilising the respiratory muscles, causing fatal suffocation. If a pup is only given a dosage which causes paralysis, which is quite possible, it is impossible to see whether it is dead or still alive. Thus, as a result of this, a certain percentage of pups from the farms are literally skinned whilst only paralysed but very much still alive.
We ask you please to refer my disgust at this slaughter to the highest authorities, and ask of the Consulate to promote Eco-Tourism in the White Sea region to see the pups in their natural environment instead of murdering them. The locals who currently hunt could turn their skills into acting as tourist guides during the Spring season. The region is well known internationally for its history and beautiful architecture. In this modern age of 2005, I do not consider that any form of seal pup hunting is acceptable or that the local communities still have to rely on such barbarity for their livelihood. Can you also please explain how such allegedly poor and financially deficient hunting communities can pay around $1000 per hour for the hire of around eight helicopters flying approximately 4 to 6 hours per day out to the ice floes; or is this hunt financially supported and encouraged by the Russian authorities ?
Please stop the hunt and bring the region into the 21st Century by promoting Eco-Tourism. I will do everything in my power to inform as many people as possible about the mass murder of seal babies which takes place in Russia every year. You are in a position to stop it please do it !
euronews.ws