More than 150 dolphins have fallen victim to the latest horrific slaughter in the Faroe Islands, prompting a torrent of criticism from horrified animal rights charities but also some disgusted locals.
An estimated 156 Atlantic white-sided dolphins were deliberately killed in the traditional hunt, known as grindadráp, in a matter of hours in Skálabotnur on Saturday.
Harrowing footage and images showed the defenceless animals being stabbed and macheted in the bay, turning the water blood red, before being dragged ashore, lined up and executed.
Adult females were seen torn apart along with their young and their remains were left to their fate, bleeding through the wooden jetty into the water below.
More than 150 dolphins have fallen victim to the latest horrific slaughter in the Faroe Islands
Dolphin carcasses are left on the wooden jetty, leaking blood through the wooden slats and into the water.
Harrowing images and videos showed how the defenceless animals were stabbed and attacked with machetes in the bay, turning the water blood red, before being washed ashore.
An estimated 156 Atlantic white-sided dolphins were deliberately killed in the traditional hunt, known as grindadráp, in a matter of hours in Skálabotnur on Saturday.
A young boy inspects the carcass of a dolphin killed in this weekend’s race
The Faroe Islands are an autonomous archipelago that forms part of the Kingdom of Denmark in the North Atlantic between Norway and Iceland.
The grindadráp, often called the grind, typically kills hundreds of pilot whales each year and was traditionally a vital source of food for the Faroese people.
Pilot whales are actually one of the largest species of dolphins and are very social creatures that stay with their young for their entire lives.
During the rut, locals use boats to herd the animals into shallow water, where hunters can stand waist-deep in water and stab them to death with spears and spikes, turning the water a deep crimson in dystopian scenes.
But today, this cruel practice is no longer a necessity and largely endures as a tradition, infuriating animal rights activists around the world who criticize the practice as wanton killing.
And with each passing year, those overseeing the operation face increasing resistance from a growing number of their own people, who believe the practice should be limited to ensure only small numbers of dolphins are hunted.
They also argue that certain species, such as Atlantic white-sided dolphins or bottlenose dolphins, should be excluded from the routine.
On September 12, 2021, 1,428 Atlantic white-sided dolphins were killed on the same beach, prompting widespread condemnation.
In an effort to appease critics, Faroese authorities issued a temporary quota limit of 500 Atlantic white-sided dolphins per year for 2022 and 2023.
The Faroese themselves claim that this is part of their tradition and that hunting provides free food for their community.
But more and more people are taking to social media to question why the killing of Atlantic white-sided dolphins is still allowed.
This year’s routine prompted several residents to take to social media, arguing that the practice is unnecessary and that islanders would be better served seeing dolphins swimming off their shores.
The dolphins are cut into their carcasses before being lifted by their tails.
Dolphins are seen in the bay with huge holes.
Images show the first ‘grind’ of 2024 in June, during which 40 whales were slaughtered
A man and his young son are seen looking at the killed whales on the shore after the June hunt.
An aerial view shows blood spilling into the sea, turning the port red, earlier this year.
Pilot whales lie on the ground after being slaughtered during the Grindadrap earlier this year.
Tóta Árnadóttir, a resident of Skálabotnur, said: “I think the general joy would be much greater if we, who live by the fjord, could see them.”
Tórun Beck said: ‘Last week’s pilot whales were not taken ashore because there were enough of them. But now they are also killing Atlantic white-sided dolphins.
“Who’s hungry? What a shame!”
Irdi Jacobsen added: “We don’t have a tradition of killing the Atlantic white-sided dolphin and I don’t understand why we should do it now.”
Atlantic white-sided dolphins have only been part of the grindadráp since 1992.
They are more agile and faster than the traditionally fished long-finned pilot whales, and the ability to hunt them today is only a result of improvements in boats that offer more power, speed and maneuverability than traditional Faroese boats.
Rob Read, chief operating officer of the UK’s Paul Watson Foundation (an ocean conservation organisation that documents and campaigns against the grind carnage), said: ‘Grindadráp aside, the Faroese are a modern, wealthy society.
‘There is no need for this food to feed their community and today’s slaughter will not cause supermarkets to stock out.
‘Once again, tradition is simply being used as an excuse, much like what has happened in other nations, where tradition has been used as an excuse for things like fox hunting and bullfighting.’
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