Unacceptable cruelty, including the hooking and hoisting of a live seal into a boat has been documented at the hunt this week, at the very same time Canadian officials overseas are heralding this year to be the most humane seal hunt ever.
 
“The cruelty we witnessed earlier this week should not be tolerated anywhere in the world,” said Sheryl Fink, IFAW senior researcher and veteran seal hunt observer.

“Now that I have seen the actual text of the new condition of license, I’m left speechless by its inadequacy.” said Sheryl Fink, IFAW senior researcher and veteran seal hunt observer.

“The blatant disregard for precautionary management principles demonstrates to the world that the Canadian government does not value science or conservation,” said Sheryl Fink, a senior researcher with IFAW.
 
Experts with IFAW maintain that the government’s unwillingness to seriously reduce the TAC is not only irresponsible, but downright reckless given the recent history of unsustainable catches, poor ice conditions and increased pup mortality. “Just last year, hundreds of thousands of newborn pups in the southern Gulf of St.

IFAW worked with local group Fundación Patagonia Natural (FPN) and the Argentine government in the rescue of 200 threatened Magellanic penguins and other birds including Steamer ducks, Silvery grebes, cormorants and Great grebes reaching a total of 642 birds treated.
 
“This is not the first time we have been asked to work alongside the staff of FPN to fight the scourge of oil pollution, and the threat to the wonderful wildlife of this region,” said IFAW Manager Ian Robinson.

The campaign aims to protect endangered wildlife species from the growing illegal commercial wildlife trade around the world.  IFAW’s approach to combating illegal wildlife trade in the Middle East and North Africa region is to work in co-operation with local governments and agencies.