Merciless Tradition: World Condemns Massacre of Almost 1500 Dolphins in Faroe Islands

The world has condemned the massacre of almost 1500 dolphins in the Faroe Islands as part of a merciless traditional hunt. Over the weekend, 1428 dolphins were butchered under the latest ‘grindadrap’ hunt on the island of Eysturoy.

The hunt is a Faroese tradition of dolphin drive hunting in which these creatures are driven toward land by motorboats being killed by whalers on the shore.

The conservational group Sea Shepherd has labeled the hunt as “the largest single killing of dolphins or pilot whales in the islands’ history.” The group has been working to stop the traditional Faroese “Grind” hunt since the 1980s.

According to Sea Shepherd UK Ambassador Helen Taylor,

To get a sense of scale – this massacre at Skálabotnur approaches the quota for the entire 6-month dolphin killing/capture at Taiji in Japan – and actually exceeds the numbers killed in any recent years of the Japanese 6 month dolphin killing/capture season. For such a hunt to take place in 2021 in a very wealthy island community just 230 miles from the UK with no need or use for such a vast quantity of contaminated meat is outrageous.

The magnitude and cruelty of the hunt was so high that even many Faroese, who usually view the hunt as part of their cultural heritage, have expressed feelings of disgust and appall.

Locals were disappointed as far too many animals were herded into the bay, with too few people waiting on the beach to kill them, which prolonged their agony. The dolphins lay on the shore writhing for a long time before they were slaughtered.

The horrifying scenes of animal cruelty have been circulating on social media, fueling public rage. Hundreds of slaughtered dolphins can be seen on the shore next to red-blooded water.

Even people who are campaigning for the survival of the traditional hunt have expressed dismay as this unfortunate event will only fuel the opposition of the Grind.

The Grind is important for many natives, with spectators drawn to the shore and the meat from the catch traditionally shared among the participating families, with any excess then distributed to local villagers.

Via: The Guardian