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Denmark’s Gruesome Mass Whale Slaughter Ritual, Grindadráp Enrages The World

by Madhusree Chatragadda
Denmark’s Gruesome Mass Whale Slaughter Ritual, Grindadráp Enrages The World

* Graphic Images And Videos Of Animal Cruelty*

Humans have slaughtered millions of animals and rendered many species extinct for their own needs since time immemorial. Take the Dodo bird example, all slaughtered for their meat, forever extinct. Similarly, every summer, the Faroe Islands in Denmark turn the otherwise peaceful oceans into a horrific shade of death, as blood colours the blue waters a deep red. This comes from an age-old ritual called Grindadráp of preparing for the harsh winters for the locals who see consuming whale meat and blubber as a way of life. Although the city officials insisted that it is a necessary act and is performed in a sustainable manner, the bloody ocean and about 800 dead bodies lining the beach, tell a different story altogether.

The Ritual
Referred to as the Grindadráp by the Danish, whales and dolphins alike are slaughtered every year for their meat and blubber (which is the thick layer of fat these mammals have to combat the cold ocean waters), in order to provide protection for the winters that hit this region. The ones swimming close to the shore are chased and dragged to the beach by a hook piercing their blowholes, where people with sharp weapons and ropes capture these great beings, hack at their arteries until the animal breathes its last, the blood trickling into the ocean.

It is a community activity that sees all locals take part in this mass butchery with even kids being taught the same.

The Aftermath
Here’s what the Faroese authorities had to say to The Express amidst outrage and worldwide protests against this bloody practice and ritual every year.

” Whale catches in the Faroe Islands are conducted in accordance with international law and globally recognised principles of sustainable development. Catches are sustainable and fully regulated by national laws and regulations, with a strong emphasis on animal welfare, and a requirement today for participants to be licenced to use the mandatory methods and equipment.

Whale drives only take place in bays that are officially approved for the purpose, and only schools of whales found in close proximity to land, usually within one nautical mile, are driven ashore. The law explicitly states that the hunt is to be conducted in such a way as to cause as little suffering to the whales as possible.

When the whales have beached themselves, they are killed. It takes a few seconds to kill each whale, and the entire pod is normally killed in less than ten minutes. The use of a spinal lance, designed by a Faroese veterinarian, ensures that the whales lose consciousness and die within a few seconds. ”

Does not sound a whole lot of ethical and sustainable to us. Nor has it sat well with protesters who urge that the ritual is enjoyed by many and passed on to children as well. Petitions are being made and circulated everywhere to stop whaling practices in both the Faroe Islands and Japan.

The Blue Planet Society actively working towards ending overexploitation of our oceans and gruesome whaling practices like these is also currently running a petition. If you feel such atrocities need to be put a stop to, sign up here. And such grave violence and unsustainable practices need to be stopped, people!