Let me start of, with writing about pilot whales and dolphins. They are sentient beings and form social bonds similar to us humans. Just like any other being, they show signs of distress when they are in dangerous situations or confinement. Now, imagine, loud boats with nets and spears, encircle you and force you to the shallow waters…having no idea what is happening, and everyone is under stress. And then, the water turns red, you hear a loud scream, followed my another, and the taste of iron fills the water.
The short-finned pilot whale has been reported as being highly playful, social, long-lived and slow to reproduce. They are usually found in pods of 10 to 30 (could reach up to 100) individuals. Their structure mostly is matrilineal (led by an elder female relative) but can also sometimes be familial. They have stable social structures which means they form hierarchical associations that remain stable for generations. They are also alloparental, which means they help care of the young that are not their own (non dependent on which sex – both take care equally) (more information you can find here)
I have been acutely aware of the hunting sprees, but with everything going on in the world ( I will mention the starvation (human fabricated famine by Is_el) of Gaza and the murdering / gen__de of Palestinians, since 1947, as well as the wars in Sudan and Congo, and other places that are in suffering situations (thanks to capitalism a la colonialism)
This topic, this happening, did not let me go. And after having a dream of losing and chasing two dogs, waking up to grief my own dog, this topic hooked onto me and needed to be communicated (in may case, written).
The resources I have, are based of the videos I saw on Instagram and self initiated research. It mentally pierces my brain seeing the images of killing pilot whales and dolphins… it literally causes a physical ache in my head that spreads through my body. In thoughts, I cannot grasp it. It leaves me speechless and paralysed because I cannot understand, cannot twist my mind in such a way to make it understandable. People can now come up to me and proclaim, well this is tradition? And I just wonder, what part is tradition? This is only possible if mentally and emotionally one has been altered in such a way for one not to even flinch by the sight of red water. A lot of people, including myself, would faint in the sight of so much blood… that begs the question, if there are still people who exist, which faint or become sick by the sight of blood, I do boldly assume, that humans, were not developed, by nature, to see this amount of blood. Like there is a biological “mechanism” that makes us react. And to systematically extract this, that is barbaric. This is an assumption and a point of view. It is known that the exposure of violence and death, alternates you. It is impossible to remain the same after a traumatic view, after experiencing violence. And I do assume, that young children, when they see something like this for the first time (due to the excuse of continuing a barbaric tradition) do react, psychologically in a way – but since a child is designated, literally needs to be accepted by the group enable to survive – the child “has” to accept, and alternate their self. One can then also look at the group of people, who go to these “happenings” as a touristic thrill… it’s like supporting a death cult. I am “curious” to hear their point of view, even though, at the same time, I do not want to hear their point of view. What goes on inside their minds? To think, hey, let me watch people, with their own young children, kill helpless creatures (“for food”) for fun?. What is my gain? becoming an even more emotionless being that before – until I don’t feel anything anymore. One would think, or at least my generation has always been told “this is the 21 century”, but honestly, what bull. I swear, psychologically, we are stuck in the stone ages, and I feel, that is already an insult for those that lived back then because, for now the research that I have read about our ancestors shows that they did not kill for fun nor en mass. We also used to live in caves or make fire using twigs and stones, but that tradition is not something to proceed with, whale killing on the other hand…sure(?!).
On Janurary 10th of the year 2025, in Árnafjarðarvík, some inhabitants of Faroese (considered… “whalers”)… killed, slaughtered 47 pilot whales, including a number (unkown) of pregnant whales and young calves. Apparently this whole thing is called “the grind”… Noted by sea Shepherd Global, this was an “unseasonable practice” (side note – it should obviously be not allowed in any season) but apparently this “marks” a shift in the timing and frequency.
“The next morning at 9.30 they were herded and cornered near the kill beach, and slaughtered at a convenient time for those participating. In so many ways these actions display the modern privilege, ease and casual disregard for these animals.”
– seashepherd.org, January 15, 2025, Rare January Slaughter: A Grim Start to 2025
This was’t the only time this year. Tragically, the same thing happened again. On 12 June 2025, another disturbing whale hunt took place the Faroe Islands.
“A pod of 246 pilot whales, including 30 pregnant females and an unknown number of young calves, was brutally slaughtered in Leynar Bay in a drive hunt condemned internationally for its cruelty.”- Worldanimalprotection.org, 246 whales killed in blooody faroe island hunt
At least 30 pregnant females, were among them, whose unborn calves were left to suffocate inside their mothers‘ bodies and later discarded in dumpsters as stated by Sea Shepherds Global.
“This incident once again raises serious concerns about the cruelty, lack of transparency, and ecological disregard of the Grindadráp tradition. Sea Shepherd calls for immediate international pressure to halt these mass killings and for the Faroese government to recognize the increasing outcry—both abroad and at home.”- Sea Shepherds Global
I really don’t understand it. It is simply cruel. There are little children (as you can see in the screen shot) standing in red, drenched waters… standing in death. And probably, if education and external pressure doesn’t thrive, this will “act”, the cycle will continue. This is why, I am calling for a boycott. Literally. In my circle, I don’t know anyone who has gone there or would go, but apparently, there are not enough people who are aware of this, enable to create pressure. We can’t just look away. It is important to use any medium that is available to speak up. Use your words and your body.
Maybe, a million years ago, their ancestors did hunt a whale to eat… but it was probably one or a hand full… and not this insane amount. I do imagine – contradicting my written sentence of comparing our psychological state to theirs, that because they knew that there needs to be a balance and that blind – mass killing can only be bad, they did not do this. So I guess, we kind of degraded… empathetically definitely. Pilot whales are undeniable intelligent, just because they cant speak english doesn’t mean they are not intelligent. They grief, they cooperate and they have emotional connection. Even if I personally, have never met a pilot whale, I still regard it as a being just as worth of being here on this earth than I am. Plus, they are part of an important ecosystem, that we give a crap about (at least those that profited off the destruction and people that ignore issues), for at least 400 years, and other species depend on their existence.
Screenshot/Image by Sea Shepherd Global
I don’t believe that the protection of these beings ultimately lies in the hand of the Faroese people. This is a global responsibility and we all need to get together to produce pressure which enforces change. Otherwise people don’t give a fuck if there aren’t and consequences.. and with consequences I mean economic pressure. Plus education needs to be at the forfront too. Countries should stop trading (I am acutely aware of how the boycott of Is….el is going and that the majority of the countries still trade despite declared geno…de) nevertheless, it would be a way (main export partners are Russia, USA, UK and Denmark) but they too rely on imports from Denmark, Germany and Norway, sooo… this should be on peoples radar. I will also cover other countries that hunt whales, sharks and dolphins… also the general fishing industry (which..wtf) so bear with me. This is a start, and it is based on my opinion mixed with information from different sources. Therefore, it is one sides, because when I think about who speaks for the whales, I want to be a voice for them, and I have a very strong feeling that they much rather want to be alive than dead.. and I surely can’t twist my thoughts in such a way which makes such a „event” acceptable. I am not vegan yet, but I am on the path – I still consume goat cheese and eggs (locally sourced but still, I know), but this does not disqualify me from raising my voice.
The death toll of 2025:
5 ruthless and senseless hunts have taken place so far in Árnafjarðarvík, Leynar, Suðuroy, Bøur, and Tjørnuvík. Information taken by: #StoptheGrind:
- 520 total pilot whales killed
- At least 44 pregnant females killed along with their unborn calves
- These unborn calves are typically onsidered unfit for consumption and discarded without being counted in the total killed
- Confirmed juvenile deaths in multiple hunts
- No transparency or accountability from the authorities about the management or monitoring of the hunts
Screenshot/Image by #stopthegrid
Information sources:
First grindadráp of 2025: 47 pilot whales killed in Faroe Islands
– https://www.theanimalreader.com/2025/01/11/first-grindadrap-of-2025-47-pilot-whales-killed-in-faroe-islands/
https://seashepherd.org/2025/01/15/rare-january-slaughter-a-grim-start-to-2025
https://www.stopthegrind.org/post/grind-sustainability-myth
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