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The relative effectiveness of two expanding bullet designs in young harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus): A randomised controlled field study in the Norwegian harp seal hunt

Part of: AWF Wild Animal Welfare

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

KA Ryeng  and
SE Larsen
KA Ryeng*
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Research, Fram Centre, PO Box 6606, Langnes, NO-9296 TromsØ, Norway
SE Larsen
Affiliation:
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Oslo, Norway
*
* Contact for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

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The aim of this study was to investigate the relative effectiveness of a rapidly expanding Bonded hunting bullet and an explosively expanding Varmint bullet in young harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). The study was conducted as an open, controlled and randomised parallel-group designed field trial. The animals were pre-randomised (1:1) into one explosively expanding (Varmint) and one expanding (Bonded) bullet type group, with 75 animals in each. The study sample consisted of young, weaned harp seals, 2-7 weeks of age, of both sexes, from the Greenland Sea harp seal population. The study was conducted during the regular hunt. Instantaneous death rate (IDR) and time to death (TTD) were the main variables. The observed IDR was 84% in both bullet groups. Correcting for Weather Condition Index, the IDR for the Varmint bullet was significantly higher compared to the Bonded. The mean TTD was shortest in the Varmint group, but the difference did not reach significance. Compared to the Bonded, a significantly higher total cranial damage score and bleeding intensity, and significantly lower frequencies of bullet exit wounds were detected in the Varmint group. The post mortem reflex movements caused by the Varmint bullet were significantly more powerful with longer duration and higher frequencies of clonic contractions. In conclusion, the results indicate a higher effectiveness of the Varmint bullet relative to the Bonded. The Varmint bullet may thus improve animal welfare in the hunt of young harp seals.

Keywords

animal welfareharp sealhuntinstantaneous death raterifle bullet designtime to death
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 30 , Issue 2 , May 2021 , pp. 155 - 167
Copyright
© 2021 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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