[QUOTE=youngstevie;1324666] They cull the babies because thats the fur they want, not the adults. I also draw you to your point "Battering something to death is not my idea of exceptable" In my post I DID say I found that inhumane and unnacceptable.

There are also lots of CountRies in this situation too

I agree tho

I watched several Docus once in Australia, narrated by a Seal expert of over 50 years, and the reason they continually breed is because they miss their young, pure and simple. WE take away the babies, the mothers feel 'lost' and breed more ! He has already advised Governments on this and told them that if they reduced the culling, the seal numbers would decline naturally, and he has already proved his point in other areas reagarding seals.

If its the same guy I am thinking of, didnt he compare the "breeding" with rarer species? thus giving a completely unfair example in regard to increase in breeding numbers?

I think I am right in saying regardless of whether their cubs are killed, lost eaten etc.. all those raised will be weaned by about 2 weeks and then abandoned, and Cows will mate immediately after this. With a gestation of 11mths, a cull of once a year fits directly in line with their natural breeding cycle and proves they do not mate because their babies have been killed, producing young once a year, every year from sexual maturity.

The guy I was watching (his name escapes me, will have to ask the MIL) was not comparing any other species, but dedicated a whole series of docus on the one species for this reason alone.

I still don't agree with it.

Let's face it, the world wasnt overrun with Seals before culling began was it ?

Dunno how many there were Malady, but they arent in short supply now either!

And if we didn't kill whales etc., we would have some natural preditors. I agree they are killed for thier fur, so some person can walk around in a posh coat made of seal, all I'm saying is that we need to go back to being more self sufficent, in some rich countries, food is rotting because they don't distribute. Anyone who thinks Oh! the dolphin is not in that tin of tuna, are fooling themselves if they really believe that they are released, they may not be in that tin, but they end up in someone's dinner plate, same as culled seals end up on someones back. To blame breeding is (in my opinion) a cop out, cull the adults then (humanely) not the young. We are preditors, and sometimes not in the right way.

Well considering the Orca (Killer Whale) is the top predator for the Harp seal, and Seals in general, your point doesnt hold much water, because we dont hunt Orca's, never have!! Most Whales are plankton eaters.

Who is blaming breeding? Whats the "cop out?" Nobody said culling Seal pups is to curb their breeding alone. Its for the fur industry first and foremost but does serve to regulate the huge numbers that are bred each year. Its all about management, if they wernt killed for fur, they would be culled due to high numbers anyway.

As with all of us, we were asked our opinion, and those are mine. I don't agree. I and I say 'I' feel we could handle things differently. I am not debating I am simply against it, as I am all other Blood sport, poaching and killings.

Yep, well said, I totally agree. All the planets problems with all animals are down to Man, not them overbreeding !