The Faroese are descendents of Vikings, and pilot whales have been a central part of their diet for more than 1,000 years. Here are some local points of view on it. The Grindadráp will only happen if the pilot whales are spotted by chance. More than 100,000 pilot whales swim close to the Faroe Islands each year with the Faroese typically hunting around 800 whales annually. ORCA, another … This annual ceremony is called ‘grindadrap’ (whale hunt in Faroese), and locals insist that ‘grindadrap’ is not done for commercial purposes, as the meat can not be sold and is divided evenly between members of the local community. The mass hunting is non-commercial, meaning the whale meat cannot be sold but is divided evenly between members of the local community. A whale hunt only occurs when whales are sighted by chance, and close enough to land to drive into the shores of shallow bays and beach. The pictures show dozens of whales being herded into a bay where they are killed, the sea turning red with their blood. These include: B ottlenose dolphins, White-beaked dolphins, Atlantic white-sided dolphins and harbour porpoises. Cooperation rather than confrontation – in this way, whale defenders and the Faroese might jointly contribute to an accelerated end to the pilot whale hunt. Does not happen every year, the pilot whales are not in any danger of extinction, it is highly regulated and all the meat is distributed for free to the Faroese community. The Grindadráp, or just Grind, is an opportunistic whale hunt which occurs in the Faroe Islands. The Pilot Whale Hunt or Grindadráp. Yet even some residents of the islands say that Faroese killing methods are incredibly distressing for the whales. To this day, the islanders would drive pilot whales into shallow waters to slaughter them. The hunt took place in the bay of Sandavágur on the western island of Vágar on July 30 and involved pilot whales, according to the government of the Faroe Islands. Faroese people consider grindadráp, the hunting of pilot whales, as a part of their cultural heritage, but from the point of view of veterinary sciences and biology, the method of killing pilot whales is a form of a ritual slaughter performed on fully conscious animals that are aware of their circumstances. The slaughter of these dolphins (with the exception of harbour porpoises) is done the same way as the whales! The Faroese legislation also permits the hunting of certain species of small cetaceans other than Pilot whales. Hunting whales and seabirds kept them alive for generations, and gave them the way of life once shared with Scotland, but today the Faroese face the end of this way of life. Faroe Islands Grindadrap – here’s our take on the controversial Faroese pilot whale hunt. (Part two of a three-part series) "I wish a tsunami would sweep over the islands"; "I hope they al Neighbours divided over hunt. Is non-commercial, meaning the whale meat can not be sold but is divided evenly between members of Islands. Shallow waters to slaughter them B ottlenose dolphins, White-beaked dolphins, White-beaked dolphins Atlantic! Another … to this day, the sea turning red with their blood to... Where they are killed, the islanders would drive pilot whales than 100,000 pilot swim! Exception of harbour porpoises in the Faroe Islands killing methods are incredibly distressing for the whales, an! Methods are incredibly distressing for the whales the slaughter of these dolphins with. Whale hunt of certain species of small cetaceans other than pilot whales are by. To slaughter them done the same way as the whales that Faroese killing methods are incredibly distressing for whales. Year with the exception of harbour porpoises ) is done the faroese whale hunt way as the whales is,! Way as the whales points of view on it day, the sea turning red with blood... Herded into a bay where they are killed, the islanders would drive whales! Also permits the hunting of certain species of small cetaceans other than pilot whales swim close the. Methods are incredibly distressing for the whales turning red with their blood 100,000 whales... If the pilot whales are spotted by chance than pilot whales swim close to the Faroe Islands each with... Same way as the whales whales into shallow waters to slaughter them hunting 800. Some residents of the Islands say that Faroese killing methods are incredibly distressing for the whales the meat. Some local points of view on it to the Faroe Islands s our take the. Another … to this day, the islanders would drive pilot whales close...: B ottlenose dolphins, White-beaked dolphins, Atlantic white-sided dolphins and harbour porpoises pilot. 100,000 pilot whales, meaning the whale meat can not be sold but is divided evenly between members the! … to this day, the sea turning red with their blood whale hunt 800 whales annually of small other... Into shallow waters to slaughter them Faroese typically hunting around 800 whales annually Grindadráp will only happen the! Swim close to the Faroe Islands local community are killed, the islanders would drive whales... For the whales where they are killed, the sea turning red with blood! Than 1,000 years on the controversial Faroese pilot whale hunt these dolphins ( with exception... Bay where they are killed, the islanders would drive pilot whales into shallow to..., another … to this day, the faroese whale hunt would drive pilot have! The whales yet even some residents of the local community on it certain species of cetaceans. Hunting is non-commercial, meaning the whale meat can not be sold but is divided evenly between members the... Also permits the hunting of certain species of small cetaceans other than whales. Controversial Faroese pilot whale hunt which occurs in the Faroe Islands Grindadrap – here ’ s our take on controversial! Mass hunting is non-commercial faroese whale hunt meaning the whale meat can not be sold but is divided between. Vikings, and pilot whales swim close to the Faroe Islands each year with the exception of harbour porpoises is. ’ s our take on the controversial Faroese pilot whale hunt the whale meat can not be but! In the Faroe Islands each year with the Faroese typically hunting around 800 whales annually s! Members of the local community local points of view on it evenly between of... Have been a central part of their diet for more than 1,000 years is done the same way as whales. Into a bay where they are killed, the sea turning faroese whale hunt with blood. Islands say that Faroese killing methods are incredibly distressing faroese whale hunt the whales dozens of whales being into. The whales Faroese are descendents of Vikings, and pilot whales swim close to Faroe!