Branding the seal branders: what does the research say about seal branding?

Slipstreaming research and future ethical dilemmas for animal researchers in Australia

“…The article by McMahon 1 is a clear indication of when uninformed emotive debate has had deleterious effect on conservation based ecological research. This type of research often requires the study of wild animals over long periods of time or for the entire course of their lives.…”

“…The recent acceptance of climate change in the political forum brings with it renewed ethical and moral obligations for ecosystem health and animal welfare issues that will have implications for management, biodiversity and conservation research. Emotive reactions such as those highlighted by McMahon 1 supposedly reflect society's changing views on animal welfare issues, or at worst, the vocal strength of some small interested parties. Therefore, in the long term, with our knowledge gaps of the expected effects of environment and climate changes, reactions such as these may hamper and retard conservation research and strategies that are required, especially for vulnerable and threatened species which may suffer the greatest consequences.…”

Hot iron branding of seals and sea lions: why the ban will remain

“…It appears that widespread media coverage of welfare issues associated with the use of this technique on newly weaned southern elephant seal pups ( Mirounga leonina ) prompted this ministerial intervention 1 . Since that decision was made, many technical articles and letters to editors have been published, discussing the merits of various wildlife identification techniques 2,3 and the practicalities and ethical aspects of conducting of conservation research 1,4,5,6 …”