Baby Elephant Seals hot-branded

Early last year there was a public outcry when thousands of baby elephant seals were found hot-iron branded in the most brutal way in the name of scientific research. The Federal Environment Minister, Senator Robert Hill, put a stop to the practice, but now evidence has came to light that other research practises are causing further cruelty to the seals on Macquarie Island. The ABC TV program, the 7.30 Report, along with Animals Australia, exposed this on Tuesday night (for a transcript of the program see: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/s259482.htm

The new evidence of cruel research practises includes: brutally hitting mother seals with sticks whilst researchers take tissue sample from baby seal, daily human interference of the seals for months at a time, and very rough and invasive handling of the wild seals often by untrained volunteers. There is good evidence that the research over the past 7 years has made the seals fear humans, and moved to unsuitable sites that put their lives in danger.

When, only a few days ago, the head of the Antarctic Division discovered the cruel research practises had been leaked to the public, he acted to stop the research on the seals. Whilst it is a relief that the seal may finally be able to live in peace, it also begs the question: Why did it take the Antarctic Division a year to stop all the cruelty and why did it take an internal leak to make sure animal welfare standards were taken seriously?

ACT NOW !!!! To make sure this never happens again!!!

Please contact Senator Hill and demand that the head of the Australian Antarctic Division, Dr Tony Press, be immediately sacked for animal welfare negligence that has caused pain and suffering to thousands of seals at Macquarie Island.

Also urge that the Antarctic Division's animal ethics committee is reformed, and that this be done in consultation with animal welfare groups, and that the committee be subject to regular independent audits:
The Hon. Robert Hill
Minister for the Environment
Parliament House, Canberra, 2600
email c/o: roger.beale@ea.gov.au
Tel: (02) 6277 7640
Fax: (02) 6273 6101