‘Huntwatch’ Chronicles The Fight To End Commercial Seal Hunting

Huntwatch tells the disturbing tale of the fight to permanently end commercial seal hunts in the East Coast Canadian region. Huntwatch is produced by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and is narrated by Ryan Reynolds of Deadpool fame. According to Broadway World, Huntwatch follows the ongoing battle activists must continue to wage against the tragic practice of clubbing baby seals for their fur.

“Like most people, I thought the horrendous practice of clubbing baby seals for fur ended a long time ago,” said John Hoffman, executive vice president of documentaries and specials. “By documenting these inhumane acts IFAW has created a valuable visual weapon to expose them. Discovery’s goal is to sound the alarm worldwide that this is still happening and ignite change.”

The IFAW recently posted to their Facebook page that Kerry Branon, who produced Huntwatch, shared her story in the latest issue of Curve Magazine! and Branon explained that an in-house team of filmmakers invested six years in researching, negotiating, traveling, and interviewing for Huntwatch.

Branon states that she was the primary producer and the production manager of Huntwatch, and it was her responsibility to keep track of the Huntwatch story line, arrange the interviews, sort through the logistics, and try to keep things on time and on budget. She explains that because she never gave up, her producing partners began to call her the “Mother of Huntwatch.” She goes on to say that Huntwatch uncovers the 50-year battle over baby seals that went on between the activists, the fishermen, and the politicians.

https://twitter.com/huntwatchfilm/status/773182514978369539

So how did all this begin? Huntwatch examines how over 40 years ago, it was common practice for respected Canadian sealers to quietly go out and slaughter baby harp seals for their beautiful and very valuable white fur. Huntwatch goes on to tell the story of activist Brian Davies. After witnessing the brutal practice firsthand in 1969, he set out to do everything he could to save the seals. That same year, Huntwatch explains that he launched the International Fund for Animal Welfare to protect and preserve animal populations worldwide.

Using his camera as a weapon, Huntwatch reveals that Davies began documenting what he saw, which helped spark an unprecedented animal welfare movement. Variety shared that the Huntwatch film focuses on how the activists used the media to their advantage, which included using celebrity spokespeople and transporting journalists directly to the bloody ice pans where the killings took place. Huntwatch points out that Davies also used television for the first time to successfully sway public opinion, and to bring attention to the killing of the baby seals.

Although Davies and his IFAW were quickly gathering major support from allies, Huntwatch notes that they were also making a lot of enemies within the sealing community and in the Canadian government as well. According to Huntwatch, the European Parliament finally banned the import of baby white-coat seal products in the 1980s, but for Davies and IFAW, Huntwatch points out that their victory wasn’t permanent. Huntwatch informs viewers that unfortunately, changing trends and a growing demand for fur has made the killing of seals once again a common occurrence.

Huntwatch discovered that the Canadian government was able to reinstate the practice by blaming seals for the cod stock collapse. According to Huntwatch, changing regulations also allowed for the seals to be hunted once they began molting their white baby fur. Not ones to give up or give in, Huntwatch shows how the IFAW has redoubled their efforts and changed strategies in order to end this cruel practice once and for all.

Catch @huntwatchfilm on @Discovery @VancityReynolds about seal hunting #huntwatch Here: https://t.co/AVoYyKUp3G pic.twitter.com/x9mTzGwlRX

— FlavRReport (@FlavRReport) August 27, 2016

Huntwatch shares that over time, Davies was able to build up an army of dedicated activists, and Huntwatch explains how Sheryl Fink is now leading the dangerous and bold war against the harvesting of seals. For their part, Discovery is hoping to lend Fink and the other activists a hand by airing Huntwatch, which will help spread the word worldwide about what’s still happening in regard to the slaughter of the young harp seals, and the IFAW is very appreciative.

“We are delighted that Discovery is bringing Huntwatch to the world,” said IFAW president and CEO, Azzedine Downes. “Discovery’s commitment and courage to present the film is inspiring and we hope that the massive global Discovery audience will join us to help relegate the commercial seal hunt to where it belongs—in history books. We couldn’t have a better partner for our film.”

Huntwatch is directed and written by Brant Backlund, and the editors are Backlund and David Kennedy. Producers of Huntwatch are Kerry Branon, Richard Moos, Brant Backlund, and David Kennedy. Azzedine Downes, Erica Martin, and Shawna Moos serve as the executive directors of Huntwatch. Director of photography for Huntwatch is Richard Moos, with Ryan Reynolds narrating. For the Discovery Channel, the supervising producer for Huntwatch is Ryan Harrington, with John Hoffman serving as the executive producer for Huntwatch.

Will you be checking out Huntwatch? What do you think about the practice of killing baby seals for their fur? Leave your comments, thoughts, and opinions about Huntwatch below. This Discovery Impact Special premieres on Thursday, September 22, at 10 p.m. ET on the Discovery Channel.

[Image via Discovery]