I would like to see a link that says otherwise -- I already read in the first article you posted that some people witnessed 42 seals that were "probably" skinned alive.

For one, I just don't see why someone would bother. Killing something and then skinning it is alot easier. Seals, even young ones, are quite dangerous and can put up one heck of a fight. I went to a Victoria harbour when I was young, and I remember people freaking out because one of the young seals there had bit off someone's fingers.