Pilot Whales

18th July, 2023 Environment

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Context

Passengers of a British cruise ship witnessed a horrific and gruesome event of pilot whales slaughtering in Faroe Islands.
78 pilot whales were slaughtered as a part of centuries-old hunting tradition in the Faroe Islands, near the capital of Torshavn Denmark.

Other Details

Many environmental organizations and experts condemned this outdated and cruel practice.
British cruise ship also has apologised to passengers to dock its ship in Faroe Islands during this event.
On an average 800 whales are killed annually, number could go up to 1400.
After killing the meat and blubber is distributed among the islanders or participants of this practice.

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Pilot whales

Features/Characteristics

Having Long-fins, they have bulbous type heads and sickle-shaped flippers.
Pilot whales are considered second largest members of the dolphin family after killer whale
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), estimates their weight upto 5000 pound
They are medium-sized whales and can be in the range of 19-25 feet.
By nature they live in a group of generally 20 individuals.

Habitat and distribution

They are distributed across oceans of the world.
However these are mainly found in North Atlantic.
They are also spotted off the coasts of Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Also have presence in temperate and tropical waters of the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

What could be done

Hunting for food and other products.
Hunting as a part of cultural practices.
Pollutants such as DDT, cadmium and mercury can affect their survival.
Some whales are kept in captivity.
Increasing marine traffic, also disturbs their habitats.
People should be educated and made aware of the harm caused by such practices.

What could be done

Legal ban on such practices.
People should be educated and made aware of the harm caused by such practices.
People should avoid buying or eating any whale or dolphin meat.
More steps, governmental or on individual basis, should be taken to discourage any profit motive from such commercial whaling and dolphin hunt
Anti-whaling and anti-dolphin hunt campaign should be organized.

Conservation Status

The size of population in 2006 was estimated to be more than 200,000 In 1989 the population was estimated at 778,000
IUCN's red list of threatened species categorised long finned pilot whales as ‘Least concern’.