McCartney, wife, join battle against seal hunting
Canadian Press
Published: Wednesday, March 01, 2006
HALIFAX (CP) -- Opponents of Canada's seal hunt acquired a powerful ally in their fight to ban the disputed practice as Paul McCartney pledged Tuesday to venture out on to the ice floes in a bid to save the furry mammals.

The former Beatle and his wife Heather plan to land a helicopter somewhere in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Thursday and Friday to observe harp seal pups before the annual hunt begins, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

Rebecca Aldworth said the megastar and his wife, longtime animal rights activists, are hoping to press the federal government to end the hunt and draw attention to a species that has been a favourite cause for a cast of celebrities.

"They are taking a very strong stand against the commercial seal hunt and are going to be devoting their energies to making this a global issue," Aldworth, the society's director of Canadian wildlife issues, said Tuesday from Montreal.

"So they're there to make a strong statement about that to the Canadian government."

Aldworth said the couple plan to be in touch with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to urge his government to end the hunt.