Never before have so many dolphins and pilot whales been killed in the Faroe Islands massacre

The Danish Faroe Islands may never have seen so many dolphins and pilot whales killed in the annual slaughter. More than 1,400 marine mammals were killed this past weekend, according to animal welfare organization Sea Shepherd.

The previous record was set in 1940 when more than 1,200 pioneer whales and dolphins were butchered in the waters around the islands. On average, local authorities say around 600 head of cattle are killed during this annual tradition. “The deaths of more than 1,400 dolphins and pilot whales are probably the highest number ever recorded,” says Animal Welfare.

‘miscalculation’

The killing of such numbers of animals is causing outrage, including among the local population. Even the island’s head of whaling describes the numbers as “excessive”. He argues that it is a miscalculation. It was assumed that there were about 200 animals. “Someone should have known better,” he says. against the BBC. “Most people were in shock.”

After the last massacre, the local public radio conducted a survey of the population asking whether the tradition should be preserved. Slightly more than half say no, and just over 30 percent think so, according to a reporter from the broadcaster.

Sea Shepherd filmed the massacre on video: