WSAP-whalewatch

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http://www.wspa.org.uk/index.php?page=941

 

New report, with foreword by Sir David Attenborough

 

A new report, 'Troubled Waters', has been released to

mark the launch of an international campaign against

whaling. Key scientific and practical evidence is

brought together for the first time to highlight the

true extent of the cruelty inherent in the modern day

killing of whales. More than 1,400 whales are expected

to die this year alone in commercial and 'scientific'

whaling operations by Norway, Japan and Iceland.

 

In his foreword, naturalist and broadcaster Sir David

Attenborough describes how the report contains " 'hard

scientific dispassionate evidence that there is no

humane way to kill a whale at sea. "

 

An unprecedented coalition of over 140

non-governmental organisations in more than 55

countries is taking part in the WSPA co-ordinated

'Whalewatch' campaign. It is lobbying the

International Whaling Commission (IWC) to call a halt

to all commercial and scientific whaling operations,

maintain the current ban on commercial whaling and

bring the issue of cruelty back to the fore at the

2004 meeting of the IWC that will take place in

Sorrento, Italy, in July.

 

Peter Davies, Director General of the World Society

for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), said, " The

cruelty behind whaling has become obscured in recent

years by abstract arguments over population

statistics. The fact is that, whether it is one whale

or a thousand, whaling is simply wrong on cruelty

grounds alone. "

 

Although commercial whaling has been banned since

1986, over 20,000 whales have been killed since the

ban came into force. In addition, Japan and Norway

have repeatedly announced their long-term intention of

continuing whaling and resuming commercial trade in

whale products.

 

The technology used for killing whales has altered

little since the 19th century, when the grenade tipped

harpoon was invented. The harpoon is intended to

penetrate the whale's body before detonating, killing

it by inflicting massive shock or injury. Given the

constantly moving environment in which whales live and

are hunted, there are inherent difficulties in

achieving a quick clean kill. Despite its destructive

power, the whaler's harpoon often fails to kill its

victim instantaneously and some whales take over an

hour to die.

 

The difficulties in hitting a whale with any degree of

accuracy can be seen in the margin for human error.

For instance, despite similar killing methods being

used, Norway reported that one in five whales failed

to die instantaneously during its 2002 hunt, whilst

Japan reported that the majority of whales, almost

60%, failed to die instantaneously in its 2002/3 hunt.

 

 

Current tests to determine the moment of death in a

whale are inadequate. The question remains whether

whales may in fact still be alive long after having

been judged to be dead. The full extent of their

suffering is yet to be scientifically evaluated.

 

 

 

 

 

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