There’s been this problem plaguing me for the last week, and nobody can answer it. First, some background.
Paul McCartney and his wife have taken it upon themselves to come to our fine country (Canada, for you search engine folk) and protest “the seal hunt”. By seal hunt they mean they find baby seals and club them to death to use various and sundry parts of said clubbed seal for various and sundry things. This practice upsets the McCartney clan and they’re hear to tell us that it’s wrong.
First, I’m not sure where I stand on this. Killing seals should really be no different than killing any other animal, save for the fact that a seal is “cuter” than a cow or a pig, animals whose slaughter is perfectly acceptable, perhaps even to the McCartney clan. As they say, there’s room on earth for all of God’s creatures – right next to the mashed potatoes. However, I’m escaping my question.
Why do they club them? Every other animal gets shot. Cows. Pigs. Old dogs. Cats, if we’re lucky (har!). But not seals. No, seals get clubbed. It’s the only animal I’m aware of that the acceptable practice of slaughter is to sneak up on it and beat it about the head with a stick. Why? I really want to know.
Note: Apparently the reason may be they don’t want gunshot holes in the pelt. Because clearly the average hunter can’t aim.
Today’s Random Links
Even the baby seals want the McCartney clan to go home!
“I’m too young to die..”: The Baby Seal Clubbing Game
The Objective Presentation of Baby Seal Clubbing
Buy this PETA-angering t-shirt today!
Why people club seals – one answer
I was under the impression that the ‘club’ has a spike on the end which goes into the brain and kills the seal instantly. The spike works the same way a bolt gun does on a cow in a slaughterhouse. Single penetrating blow to the head and instant death.
Hunters don’t just go out with a baseball bat and smack at their prey until it stops moving, despite those who may want you to believe it.
I have to tell you that you have been mis-informed about clubbing. This method of killing Seals was banned in the 80’s. Hunters now use rifles, they shoot Seals in the head so as not to damage the pelt… I think this is probably the most humane hunt on teh planet, yet it contines to get bad publicity. Trapping animals by the leg is 100% more cruel yet gets next to no attention.
Kip is correct. That is how it used to be done. They always show pics with these big caveman clubs… ridiculous!