"Why are they whining about a species who is absolutely thriving? You tell me..... Face Time. I Say FO."
I can answer that question LilyBean, it's because the Greenpeace documentary of the 1970s, which showed BABY seals being clubbed by evil clubbers, was the SINGLE biggest fundraiser for AR groups ever. The AR organizations acknowledge this, and use it as a textbook example of how to illicit public support/funds.
Only problem is, a Canadian investigative journalist proved years ago the seal clubbers in the documentary were PAID to club those seals by Greenpeace. It was very profitable for Greenpeace.
Plus seals are SO CUTE.
Remember Free Willy, the movie? After the movie the AR groups started a fundraising drive to raise funds to -- well -- Free Willy, the whale in the movie.
Only problem was, a Free Willy wasn't valuable as a fundraiser. So, they couldn't Free Willy because they needed him to raise money for the cause. Anyway, Willy either died in captivity or was freed after many, many years held in captivity by the people who freed him, and immediately died (can't remember which, but it was one of the two).
The Animal Rights/Animal Protection groups are an interesting study. Mostly they are about raising money. The Humane Society of the U.S. is behind this seal protest. Check into their finances sometime :)Also, don't expect them to spend any of the millions they raise to save, feed, house, spay, or neuter any animals. Most of their funding goes for outrageous salaries and for fundraising efforts (like anti seal hunts) to raise more money.
There was a clip on the news last night. A woman said it would be the last year for the hunt because the US Humane Society would stop it next year .
Not a chance. But send money anyway. :)