THE CONTROVERSIAL FAROE ANNUAL WHALE HUNTING

Whaling in the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic has been practiced since about the time of the first Norse settlements on the islands. It is regulated by Faroese authorities but not by the International Whaling Commission as there are disagreements about the Commission's competency for small cetaceans.

Around 950 Long-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melaena) are killed annually, mainly during the summer. The hunts, called "grindadráp" in Faroese, are non-commercial and are organized on a community level; anyone can participate. The hunters first surround the pilot whales with a wide semicircle of boats. The boats then drive the pilot whales slowly into a bay or to the bottom of a fjord.

Most Faroese consider the hunt an important part of their culture and history. Animal-rights groups criticize the hunt as being cruel and unnecessary. As of the end of November 2008 the chief medical officers of the Faroe Islands have recommended that pilot whales no longer be considered fit for human consumption because of the levels of toxins in the whales.
The American Cetacean Society says that pilot whales are not considered to be endangered, but that there has been a noticeable decrease in their numbers around the Faroe Islands.

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Facts About Killer Whale.

Fast Facts and Figures:

Killer whales, also called "orcas," are the largest of the dolphins.

Killer whales can weigh up to six tons.

Killer whales can grow to be 23 to 32 feet long, almost as long as a bus.

Killer whales have 40 to 50 teeth that are up to four inches long.

The average life span of a killer whale in the wild is 50 to 80 years old.

Killer whales are found in all of the oceans of the world.

The Shape and Color of Things:

The killer whale is easily recognizable by the bold black and white color patterns, including the "eye patch" and the tapered head shape.

The dorsal fin of adult male killer whales can be up to six feet high and is shaped like a triangle.

The dorsal fin of female and immature male killer whales can be up to three feet high and have a more curved shape.

Hunting and Diet:

Killer whales in the wild are considered one of the most powerful predators.

Killer whales eat seals, sea lions, whales, fish, squid and seabirds. Killer whales have been proven able to grab seals off of ice.

Killer whales live in family groups called "pods" with up to 40 individual killer whales.

There are two types of killer whales pods. One is transient and preys on marine mammals. The other is considered residential and seems to prefer fish.

Both types of killer whale pods hunt cooperatively, similar to a wolf pack.

Killer whales use echolocation to find food sources similar to the technique used by bats.

Family Life:

Killer whales give birth every three to five years in the wild, although in captivity they have been known to give birth every two years.

Female killer whales appear to become reproductively active between the ages of 10 to 16 years old and continue through their early 40s.

Killer whales carry their young for a 13- to 17-month pregnancy.

Baby orcas are born up to 8 feet long and weigh from 300 to 400 pounds.

Killer whale families are protective of young and adolescent females and assist one another in caring for them.

Killer whale pods communicate with distinctive noises.

Killer Whale Attractions:

Killer whales are considered to be very intelligent and trainable mammals, and therefore have been chosen as the stars of many aquarium shows, such as those at Sea World and Marine land.

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