Canadian Gov Guts Seal, Eats Raw Heart

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. And in Canada's Arctic, that means gutting a freshly slaughtered seal, slicing out its heart, and chowing down, reports AFP. Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean kicked off a tour of the region yesterday by dining on raw seal as a gesture of support to Canada’s Inuit population, on edge after the EU recently banned seal products. The Queen’s rep said the raw meat was “like sushi” and declared it “absolutely delicious.”

Canada’s head of state also endorsed the nutritional value of seal, CTV adds. “It’s very rich in protein,” Jean said. Canadian officials say that seal hunting accounts for 35% of income for hunters and makes up 20% of the economy in certain regions. It’s also tradition. “These are ancient practices that are part of a way of life,” Jean said. “If you can't understand that, you're completely missing the reality of life here.” (More Michaelle Jean stories.)