The Truth About Cats and Dogs in Black and White

I have progressed to too sick to want to blog. But I can't let this one slide. Paul McCartney is going to be on Larry King Live tonight and so is our Premier Danny Williams. The issue, the seal hunt. I should remind you that I am a conservationist and a big fan of sexy charismatic megafauna. I am a biocentric and egalitarian and I protect spaces and species for a living and obviously not for the cash.

What's my beef?

First, the Greenpeace video of sealers clubbing white coats has been around since the 60's. It's the same tape that gets replayed a million times.

Second, sealers don't hunt white coats, yes, that's right, there is no hunting of yearlings, cute little seal pups are safe from the big mean sealers, they have been since 1987. The adults have far less TV presence as they are not white, and much less cute. Also, Adults can not be harvested if they are in breeding or birthing grounds, and until their young are self-reliant.

Third, There are millions of seals. How do I know? I have seen the aerial photos from which the population estimates are generated. A professor in my department counted them...well estimated really, all 5.9 million, triple what is was in the 1970's, and that is just harp seals. I'm sure he could have done with ~ 250,000 less black dots to count.

Fourth, Hakapiks or clubs, originated with Norwegian sealers who found it very effective. Studies between 1969 and 1972 proved that the club or hakapik is an efficient tool designed to kill the animal quickly and humanely. A 2002 report published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal had results that parallel these findings, although most are killed with rifles. This is far less inhumane that chicken concentration camps and fox farms.
Fifth, let's worry about a real conservation threat, Climate Change (of course our new Prime Minister thinks it's a myth). In our life time we WILL see the extinction of Polar Bears. Climate Change is bad news for the north. Or maybe you animal rights people would like to see disappearing ice? I mean no ice, no hunting, right? Yeah...brilliant mathematics there.

I am all about protecting our country's wildness but didn't your folks tell you to do your homework? If you are going to go around waving your fame and fortune in the name of some great cause...make sure it is a great cause. Of all the things that need saving in this world... Children, Polar Bears, Tigers, Iberian Lynx, Red Wolves, etc... people have to save what we have millions of. Well would people mind if we were squishing beatles. Sorry Brits, but your popularity rating has slid by 4 popularity points today.