Gory visuals from Faroe Island in Denmark where over 1400 dolphins were killed over the weekend in the name of ‘Grindadrap’, a local tradition, has sent shock waves. The images and videos of the shoreline becoming red with the blood of thousands of dead dolphins have sparked outrage.
In what is believed to be a ‘record catch’, the mammals were herded by motorboats towards the shore and killed using harpoons and power drills. Reportedly, 1428 white-sided dolphins were killed during the hunt and distributed amongst locals for consumption.
Supporters defend the tradition
The supporters of whaling claimed that the practice is an important part of their cultural identity and is being practised for hundreds of years. They also said it is a sustainable way of gathering food from nature.
The Faroese government said that around 600 pilot whales are caught every year, however, the number this year has shocked even the locals.
Locals and activists share images and visuals of the island
Outraging over the incident, a local demanded the practise should be stopped. “It is time for DENMARK to stop the bloody slaughter in the Faroe Islands! Yesterday over 1,400 dolphins were slaughtered! TIME FOR YOU TO ACT!” the handle tweeted asking the government to take some action.
https://twitter.com/petethepunk/status/1437390143254671373?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwAnimal rights activist ‘Blue Planet Society’ calling the act barbaric shared visuals of hundreds of dolphins lying dead on the shore.
https://twitter.com/Seasaver/status/1437320283627610113?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwAnother handle sharing a video of the dead dolphins said that the tradition is almost 500 years old.
https://twitter.com/THE_GLOBE_N/status/1437911312827396096?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwWhat is Grindadrap?
Grindadráp is the local name for a yearly traditional event where people of the Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago under Denmark, hunt long-finned pilot whales, white-sided dolphins and other sea mammals.
The locals say whaling is essential to their survival and the meat and blubber are needed for sustenance.
However, some locals are now protesting against the tradition. “Killing white-sided dolphins is legal but it’s not popular”, said Sjurdur Skaale, a Danish MP.
“It was a big mistake,” said Olavur Sjurdarberg, the chairman of the Faroese Whalers Association, who chose to not participate in the festival. He said that killings should have been stopped after the numbers were known. “Somebody should have known better, most people are in shock about what happened,” he said.