Ban on seal hunting
(apr. 7, 2008)
cbc news

(ED. NOTE: This article is of great importance since Russia is a key market for the slaughter of Canadian seals. If a ban is implemented in this country, yet another door shuts on the killers in Newfoundland.)

RUSSIA is considering a ban on hunting baby seals, a practice that kills some 35,000 animals each year in the country, the natural resources ministry said today

"We consider it necessary,'' a ministry spokeswoman told AFP when asked about a possible ban.

"It is not allowed in any other country.''

"A document is being prepared'' on the matter, the spokeswoman said.

Last month, Russian celebrities and environmental activists held a rally against the practice on the shore of Russia's northern White Sea, where most of the hunting takes place in March and April.

The seals are killed for their fur, fat and meat.

Some 335,000 people recently signed a petition calling for a ban, the spokeswoman said.

Russian television last month showed footage of men walking with ice-picks during a hunt, hitting one baby seal after another as the snow turned red with blood.

Russian daily newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda today reported that soft-spoken president-elect Dmitry Medvedev was behind the ministry's move.