In Greenland, different hunting methods and equipment are used, depending on location, the hunting season and the weather, but the preferred
method is the rifle.
When hunting on open water, some seals are inevitably struck and lost. It is Greenland's objective to keep the struck and lost rate to a minimum.
According to section one in the Greenlandic Parliament Act on Animal Protection, the aim is to “ensure animals are treated humanely and are
protected from pain, suffering, permanent injury and negative impact”. There are provisions and requirements on hunting equipment in the
hunting act and governmental orders.
Welfare Resources
- Summary - Animal welfare aspects of the killing and skinning of seals - Scientific opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare, European Food Safety Authority, Dec. 6, 2007.
- Opinion - Animal welfare aspects of the killing and skinning of seals - Scientific opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare, European Food Safety Authority, Dec. 6, 2007.
- Annex I - Animal welfare aspects of the killing and skinning of seals - Scientific opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare, European Food Safety Authority, Dec. 6, 2007.
- Annex I I - Animal welfare aspects of the killing and skinning of seals - Scientific opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare, European Food Safety Authority, Dec. 6, 2007.
Dr. H.C. Roswell, DVM, Dept. of Pathology, University of Ottawa and founder of the Canadian Council on Animal Care.
I have examined the craniums of thousands of seal pups and I have never observed one that did not have massive hemorrhage in the brain, which is an indication that the animal was rendered unconscious and therefore incapable of feeling any pain." And, "in each case the has been massive hemorrhage into the brain resulting in immediate unconsciousness. Death was rapid and humane. The choice of killing method must favour the seal and not the observer. This animal's death, any more than can the death of domestic animals in the slaughterhouse where the public is forbidden and where television cameras do not wish to visit.
Dr. Keith Ronald, Dean of the College of Biological Science, University of Guelph
From a total of 509 animals examined at the time, there was reported to be only one other case of the animal not being rendered unconscious. This appears to be a fantastically high average of humane killing.