Sealing

Bloody Fashion

Seals’ expressive eyes have become a standard argument for those who defend the killing of seals – allowing the eyes of an animal to make an impression on you is seen as betraying a lack of objectivity. But what does one see in the eyes of an animal that can’t move, and who sees others being killed around it? What does one see in the eyes of an animal that can’t defend itself or hide, but looks right back at the person who’s about to kill it? What does one see in the eyes of an animal that has a hole in its forehead from a metal hook, but that’s still alive? These are questions that everyone who dismisses opposition to sealing should ask themselves. Because of course, like all other mammals, seals can experience and express suffering, panic and fear. But you won’t know this if you chose to look the other way.

Studies undertaken by veterinarians have shown that seals risk being skinned alive. Ethological evidence indicates that the seal pups experience extreme fear when they’re captured on the ice with other seals being killed all around them. They can’t even fight for their lives; they just lie there not able to move. Their evolution has led them to be defenceless in the vulnerable period whilst they’re still pups.

Seals are killed for fur. Either for the global fur industry, with its industrial clubbing of seals on the ice and production of coats, toys and souvenirs, or as trophies for sealing tourism, where a decorative skin is the goal of the hunter. Seal fur is not longer a fashion item of any significance, but seals are still being killed, and those who use seal products are quite literally supporting bloody fashion.