Findings

Seal hunting and the euthanasia of seals have attracted much international interest in recent years, primarily regarding the harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) hunting in Atlantic Canada and its animal welfare aspects [1]. Seals killed on the ice in Canada are either shot at close range or clubbed with a so called hakapik, and the majority of the seals are killed in a humane manner [1].

A severe conflict between fisheries and the Baltic Sea population of Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) has escalated during the last decades [2]. Hunting, one possible preventive management action, is now allowed in both Sweden and Finland using rifles of large calibres. Only calibres larger than 6.5 mm are permitted in Sweden.

Net traps also are used to capture problem seals for euthanasia. These traps are additions to existing fishing gear where seals are caught (Figure 1) in a net cylinder chamber that floats on the water to ensure that seals are not drowned [3].

Figure 1
figure 1

Side view of pontoon fish trap with entrance part (2) where the seals are caught, and the fish holding chamber (1) where the caught fish gather.

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Previous studies has investigated the effect of and damage to the skull and brain using different calibres shooting at heads of dead harp seals [4], grey seals and harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) [5].

In this study 19 grey seals caught in net traps were euthanised with a shot to the centre of the head at close range (approximately 2–3 meters) by rifle or shotgun, following the recommendations for euthanasia of pinnipeds [6] (Table 1). We used the calibres .22 WM, with a bullet diameter of 5.6 mm; .222, with a bullet diameter of 5.7 mm; 7 × 57 with a bullet diameter of 7 mm; .30-06 and .308 with a bullet diameter of 7.62 mm; and calibre 12 shotgun slug, shown in Table 1. All rifle bullets used were hollow-point bullets. The study was performed to determine suitable and safe calibres for euthanising seals in a humane way that are also safe for hunters and not more powerful than needed.

Table 1 Field data, calibre, number and location of shots, wind speed at time for euthanisation and pathological findings in euthanised grey seals ( Halichoerus grypus )
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All 19 seals were examined at the NVI for lesions. The skull and neck were examined for injuries including fractures, haemorrhages and damage caused to the brain and meninges. The heads from 12 seals were radiographed to determine the exact path of the bullets through the head.

The lateral side of the skull of grey seals was 2–5 mm thick and the overlying muscles where bullets had entered were between 5 and 20 mm thick.

Field data, calibre, number and location of all shots, wind speed at time of euthanasia and pathological findings in euthanised seals are shown in Table 1. Information is also given as to whether or not the shot was lethal. All 19 seals had skull or neck fractures, and adjacent brain damage and/or severe meningeal or intracranial haemorrhages caused by the bullet.

In all five seals shot with calibres .222 or larger and in four seals shot with .12 shotgun slugs, multiple fractures in the skull, meningeal haemorrhages, and severe damage to the brain tissue were observed. In all 10 seals shot with .22 WM, single fractures were observed in the skull or the neck region causing lesions to the brain and spinal cord of the same character as in seals shot with larger calibres (Figure 2).

Figure 2
figure 2

Seal skull with injuries caused by .22 WM. Note the fractures in the skull bone and the neck region (yellow arrows) and haemorrhages in the brain and meninges (Blue arrows).

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In four seals more than one shot was fired, all with .22 WM. Two of these seals were hit with both shots. One was wounded in the mandible, and the other in the nose. In the two other seals, only one shot hit the animal.

The wind speed was 10 m/sec or more in two instances when more than one shot was used, indicating that this should be taken into consideration when euthanising seals in traps.

All seals sustained injuries significant to cause immediate unconsciousness followed by rapid death. This study demonstrates that a rifle with calibre .222 or larger, and a 12 shotgun loaded with a slug all had the capacity to immediately euthanise the seals. It also clearly demonstrates that rifles with 5.6 mm bullet diameter or larger, fired at close range to the head and base of skull/upper neck of gray seals all caused instant death and can therefore be regarded as ballistically sufficient for euthanasia of adult seals in the wild.