Russia Basically Bans The Hunt For Harp Seal Pups

Not long after the first ruling that states seal pups that are less then a month old is prohibited, a second more modified ban was put in place. No young Harp seal can be killed that is under the age of one. (Note: Harp seal pups are nearly fully grown at one year.)

"This bloody hunting is from now on banned in our country as in most developed countries. This is an important measure to preserve Russia's biodiversity," states the person responsible for the new law, Natural Resources Minister Yury Trutrev.

This law comes at a crucial time for the Harp seal pups with numbers declining 60% in the last five years. The ban is due as a response to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin criticised remarks calling the killing of seal pups a "bloody practice." Source.