The Faroese kill hundreds of pilot whales each year to prepare for the harsh winters ahead The waters that surround the Danish Faroe Islands, located between Norway and Iceland, recently washed on the shore blood-red. According to Express, this wasn’t due to a natural phenomenon — it was because of the area’s annual summer whale culling, which draws local participants as young as 5 years old. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Since the 16th century, residents of the Faroe Islands have spent part of the summer herding pilot whales, smaller mammals that resemble porpoises, to shallow waters so they can kill the animals by breaking their spines. This year hundreds of the whales were slaughtered in an annual act that helps the Faroese prepare for harsh winters. Many Faroese eat the whale meat through the winter and use the animals’ organs as bait for fishing, according to the report “Small Cetaceans, Big Problems,” by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Pro Wildlife and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC). The same report notes a rising concern from conservationists about these kills, since there is no regulated quota for how many pilot whales are allowed to be killed each year. Additionally, sometimes other kinds of whales or porpoises that are illegal to hunt are accidentally killed in the cull. WARNING: Graphic Imagery Below Whaling in the Faroe Islands Credit: Jan Egil Kristiansen/Getty While the winters in the Faroe Islands are difficult, the report notes that pilot whale meat might not be the best answer for survival. RELATED: A Pilot Whale Has Died in Southern Thailand After Swallowing 17 Pounds of Plastic Waste “The meat, intestines, and blubber of the hunted animals are heavily contaminated with mercury and organochlorines, such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). These contaminants lead the Faroe Islands Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Physician in 2008 to warn that pilot whales should not be considered fit for human consumption,” reads the recent report. Still, the Faroese continue to kill and consume hundreds of whales each year. Whaling ( Grindadrap ) Long Finned Pilot Whale (globicephala melas) on the Faroe Islands Credit: Martin Zwick/REDA&CO/UIG/Getty Unfortunately, this isn’t the only instance of massive whale kills in the world.<doc-sep>(CNN) Images of a whale hunt in the Faroe Islands 200 miles north of Scotland have sparked renewed anger from conservationists and animal activists. The pictures show dozens of whales being herded into a bay where they are killed, the sea turning red with their blood. The hunt took place in the bay of Sandavágur on the western island of Vágar on July 30 and involved pilot whales, according to the government of the Faroe Islands. It was one of several legal hunts that take place every summer in the archipelago. It was documented by Alastair Ward, who said he was visiting to celebrate his graduation from the University of Cambridge in the UK. Reacting to the images on Twitter, the Blue Planet Society, a UK-based pressure group, condemned the killings , describing the Faroe Islands as an "archaic country" that needs to "join the 21st century." "These people have no respect, no empathy, and no need," they wrote . "This is entertainment for them."<doc-sep>THIS is the horrifying moment an Atlantic bay was turned red with blood as villagers butchered hundreds of whales in the Faroe Islands. Onlookers told how the animals squealed with terror after fishermen herded them towards dry land before hacking them to death on the beaches. 10 The bay was turned red from the blood of hundreds of massacred whales Credit: Alastair Ward / Triangle News Kids as young as five helped the bloodthirsty Sandavágur fishermen use hooked ropes to pull the pilot whales towards their death. Cambridge University student Alastair Ward, 22, stumbled across the bloodbath while celebrating his graduation. He said: “We were walking round this bay when this family of locals ran over and said, ‘You’re lucky, there’s a whale coming’. “We thought it would just be one being dragged in but more and more boats kept appearing on the horizon. 10 Kids as young as five helped their parents butcher the animals Credit: Alastair Ward / Triangle News 10 The butchery took place in Sandavágur, Faroe Islands Credit: Alastair Ward / Triangle News 10 Locals live off whale meat in winter Credit: Alastair Ward / Triangle News 10 Hundreds of the majestic beasts were lured to their deaths Credit: Alastair Ward / Triangle News “I couldn’t believe how many whales there were. They were driving them into the bay, prodding them with their oars. “Once they got close enough, the whole town sprinted in and started hacking at them. “Even the children were getting involved, pulling on the ropes and jumping on the carcasses. “We were just sat there speechless and a bit upset but you couldn’t really pull yourself away.” 10 They were driven into the bay by expert fishing crews Credit: Alastair Ward / Triangle News 10 Onlookers told how kids helped hack the defenceless creatures to death Credit: Alastair Ward / Triangle News 10 Cambridge University student Alastair Ward, 22, stumbled across the bloodbath while celebrating his graduation Credit: Alastair Ward / Triangle News 10 Alastair said many locals said 'it’s the same as farming' Credit: Alastair Ward / Triangle News 10 The student said kids were 'jumping on' the whales as they lay dying Credit: Alastair Ward / Triangle News “The squealing from the whales was horrible. “They were putting hooks on ropes in their blowholes to pull them in and then hacking at them with knives. MOST READ IN NEWS 'GOBSMACKED' Queen 'gave Harry OK for Oprah series after misleading pitch about soldiers' ROD LIDDLE Ousting right-on National Trust boss is a victory against wokery DRUMMER DEAD School Of Rock star dies at 32 after being hit by car as Jack Black mourns HOUSE ABOUT IT You won't believe what this ordinary London home looks like on the inside Exclusive TOM'S LEGACY Captain Tom Moore — who raised £39m for charity — left family £73k in will JABS HOPE Scientists 'crack cause of blood clots linked to Covid jabs & know how to fix it' “They didn’t die in a very humane way. “A lot of the locals were all saying how it’s the same as farming but I couldn’t rely agree with that. “Children were jumping on top of them. “They just have a such a different attitude to us because they’re brought up on it.” We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.<doc-sep>The inhabitants consider whaling a community activity open to everyone, which they say is regulated by national laws and is conducted in a way to cause as little suffering to the whales as possible.<doc-sep>
The world has been left outraged following the release of horrific images showing the aftermath of a whale massacre on a Danish-owned island. The brutal event, called Grindadráp by locals, happens every summer, when thousands of pilot and beaked whales are slaughtered across the Faroe Islands as residents prepare for winter. Credit: Triangle News As unsuspecting herds of whales swim close to shore during their migration season, fisherman surround them and drive them towards the shallow bay waters. Advert 10 The whales then become trapped, which is when the slaughtering begins. The event draws massive crowds every year, with children as young as five getting involved in the brutalities. Cambridge University student Alastair Ward, 22, was visiting the island last month to celebrate his graduation, when he stumbled across the busy bloodbath. He said: "We were walking round this bay when this family of locals ran over and said 'you're lucky, there's a whale coming'. Advert 10 "We thought it would be just one being dragged in but more and more boats kept appearing on the horizon. Credit: Triangle News "Once they got close enough, the whole town sprinted in and started hacking at them. "Even the children were getting involved, pulling the ropes and jumping on the carcasses. Advert 10 "We were just sat there speechless and a bit upset but you couldn't really pull yourself away." More than 180 whales were cut apart and left to die in Sandav Gur bay, turning the waters crimson red with blood as residents cheered and took selfies with loved ones. Using hooked ropes to yank the whales to shore, the fishermen hack at their bodies with sharp knives and many are left almost decapitated and writhing in pain, dying a slow and horrific death. Alistair continued: "The squealing from the whales was horrible. They were putting hooks in their blowholes and then started hacking at them with knives. Advert 10 "They didn't die in a very humane way "Children were jumping on top of them. They have such a different attitude to us because they're brought up on it." Loading… In a heartfelt post posted by Sea Shepherd Faroe Island Campaign, the anti-hunting group says: "I search for people protesting, for activists filming the cruel slaughter, for one person, anyone, who is crying over this ordeal. There is nobody." Advert 10 The event is said to be an important tradition for locals, who have depended on the meat and fat of whales for thousands of years. However, Sea Shepherd claims that while some of it is eaten, a lot of the meat is just left to rot.