By: Jahnvi Bainsla, First Year
“Cultures have long heard wisdom in non human voices: Apollo, God of music, medicine and knowledge, came to Delphi in the form of a dolphin. It is also these dolphins which fill the oceans with blipping and chirping, and whales, which mew and caw in ultramarine jazz; a true rhapsody in blue, that are hunted to the edge of silence.“
-Jay Griffith
It is this very quote that led me to spend innumerable hours on the internet, surfing for news and articles on dolphin slaughter. What I had not expected, was to see images and videos of these innocent souls swimming for their life, away from speed boats that run at speeds double and triple of theirs. With the furor that multiple animal rights activists and the world at large have been creating in recent times, you would think such inhumane acts of butchering with lances would not have continued into the 21st century. Well, you couldn’t be farther from the truth.
On 12th September, 2021, there was a record breaking massacre of 1428 white sided dolphins and 53 pilot whales just off the coast of Faroe Islands. The victims were chased for 45 kilometers before their spines were split open by lances amongst great cheer along the coastlines. This tradition of mercilessly slaughtering dolphins and whales in the Faroe Islands goes back in time to the legend of Lyngbakr, a massive whale frequently mentioned in Norse mythology.
According to the books, he was a massive whale that stuck out his hump to lure stray ships his way. Once they docked close to him, Lyngbakr sank down, drowning the seafarers. Ever since, the Icelanders have actively hunted these gentle giants around this time of the year. What is even more surprising is that a massacre on such a huge scale was approved by local authorities, and no action was taken against the hunters. The meat of these pilot whales is eaten as a delicacy, and the blubber used for storage and warmth.
A similar situation can be witnessed in the Taiji Island of Japan, where every year, dolphins are captured, hunted and killed from a period of September to March, as approved by the Isana Fishermen’s Association. These dolphins are sold to aquariums and sanctuaries that keep them for entertainment or for medical experiments. It was for these inhumane hunts that Japan pulled out of the International Whaling Commission in 2018, and restarted commercial whaling after a gap period of 31 years.
Whales and dolphins play an essential role in the ecosphere by combating climate change, providing 50% of oxygen to the oceans and maintaining fish stocks. Killing these marine animals implies disrupting the entire ecosystem and consequently sabotaging our own future on this planet. Apart from the value that they hold in nature, pilot whale meat has also been proven to be severely contaminated with Cadmium and Mercury, regular consumption of which can easily prove fatal to pregnant women and children.
With powerful international organizations such as the European Union turning a blind eye to these activities, it is even more imperative that we, as spectators stand strong against these hunts and traditions and fight for the cause alongside societies such as the Blue Planet Society.
Image courtesy:displate.com
Notes:
コメント