article_snippet: Canada's annual 'commercial seal hunt', which mainly takes place during March and April, sees thousands of young seals clubbed to death for Canada's annual 'commercial seal hunt', which mainly takes place during March and April furs.
article_snippet: Although hunters and the Canadian government claims these methods are humane,  animal rights advocates say an alarming number of 400,000 harp seals, 60,000 grey seals and 8,200 hooded seals  - a total of more than 468,000 animals are skinned while alive and responsive to pain.
article_snippet: The Humane Society of the United States claims that independent, international team of veterinarians observed the hunt and examined the corpses of skinned seals.
article_snippet: Humane': A majority of seals are killed with clubs or a ‘hakapik’ to the head in order to avoid damaging the pelt .
article_snippet: Seal hunters are not allowed to kill seal pups which have yet to molt Seal hunters downy white coat, however, this usually happens when the pup is between just ten to 21 days.
article_snippet: Adult seals are harder to hunt, and mainly has to be shot rather than clubbed – a tough task when the animal is in the water which also risks destroying the pelt.
article_snippet: As a result, an estimated 95-98 per cent of the seals killed during the commercial hunt are three weeks to three months old.
article_snippet: Clubbing babies: An estimated 95-98 per cent of the seals killed during the hunt are three weeks to three months old .
article_snippet: However, seal hunters and Canada's Fisheries Department (DFO) says the hunt is sustainable and humane, and earns money for isolated fishing communities in Atlantic Canada.
article_snippet: Seal hunting methods have been studied and approved by the Royal Commission on Seals and Sealing who concluded 'the methods of hunting seals compare favorably to those used to hunt any other wild or domestic animal'.
article_snippet: Why: Seals and Sealing are mainly killed for Seals and Sealing pelts, but hunters also sell hunters blubber and the penises, which are a popular ingredient in aphrodisiacs in Asia .
article_snippet: Despite hunters claiming it is a humane killing method, animal rights activists claim many seals are skinned while alive and responsive to pain .
highlights_snippet: Mainly killed for their furs, but also to make seal oil and aphrodisiacs .
  