Chinese and International Animal Protection Groups Say “No” To Seal Slaughter Cruelty

Chinese and Canadian animal protection groups are calling on Canada’s Fisheries Minister Gail Shea and Canadian sealing-industry representatives to leave China. Minister Shea is in China attempting to promote inherently cruel seal fur and other products to Chinese consumers.

This visit comes just weeks after a Beijing media conference at which Humane Society International joined Chinese animal protection groups and presented graphic footage of the Canadian commercial seal slaughter.
“The Canadian sealing industry is mistaken if it believes that China will willingly become a dumping ground for products of cruelty the rest of the world has rejected,” said Lu Di, director of China Small Animal Protection Association. “Chinese people care just as much about animals as the citizens of Europe and America. My organization and many others will work to ensure China never becomes a significant market for Canadian seal products.”

“I cannot believe that a civilized nation like Canada would consider promoting this cruel and outdated industry in China,” said Qin Xiaona, director of Beijing’s Capital Animal Welfare Association. “We are confident that Chinese people will join the world community in saying no to the products of this baby seal slaughter.”
“Canadians are opposed to the seal hunt, and so the sealing industry has to rely on the international community to sell its products, said Ha Wejin, Nanjing Ping An Animal Protection Group. “But we know what happens on Canada’s ice floes, and we are not prepared to perpetuate this horrific industry. We urge Gail Shea and her colleagues to leave China immediately along with their seal products.”