Warning! Distressing Images Below!! Watch On Your Own Risk!!!
Images were shared on Facebook that showed unborn dead calves inside slaughtered long-finned pilot whales that were brutally killed during the annual whale hunting festival in the Faroe Islands.
During the event, 94 long-finned pilot whales were killed by hunters, and the distressing pictures and videos of the kills were shared on social media with the hopes of increasing awareness of the brutal festival.
94 long-finned pilot whales were killed during the event, in which 4 were calves, and 5 were pregnant.
Pictures of the horrific killings were taken by the non-profit sea conservation charity showed a dead calf lying inside the intestines of its mother.
Another picture shows a whale fetus.
The hunt lasted for 5 hours and killing the whales only took 12 minutes in total.
Whales are killed in the Faroe Islands to take part in the centuries-old tradition which is called “grindadrap” or “grind”.
The main agenda of the hunt is to store food and feed the entire population of the remote island in the Atlantic during the wintertime.
Residents of the Faroe Islands say that the practice is regulated by the law and is sustainable.
This hunt was the 11 hunt of this year and according to Sea Shepherd UK, 536 pilot whales have been killed.
Local residents and tourist officials have continuously defended their right to continue the tradition.
The website of the Visit Faroe Islands says, “The Faroese have eaten pilot whale meat and blubber since they first settled the islands over a century ago. Today, as in times past, the whale drive is a community activity open to all, while also well-organized on a community level and regulated by national laws.”
The website added, “Records of all pilot whale hunts have been kept since 1584 and the practice is deemed sustainable, as there an estimated 778,000 whale in the eastern North Atlantic region. Approximately 100,000 swim close to the Faroe Islands, and the Faroese hunt an average 800 pilot whales annually.”
It continued, “The meat and blubber from the hunt is distributed equally among those who have participated.”
What do you think about this tradition? Do you think it should be continued or banned? Hit the comment section below and let us know what you think.