
THE 2009 FAROE ISLAND CAMPAIGN
As we move into 2009, we will chart a course that intersects the brutal murder of Pilot Whales (and other cetaceans) in the Faroe Islands. This practice, called the ""grindadráp" or "grind", is defended by the Faroese as a "tradition" and they vigorously defend their perceived right to murder thousands of sentient beings annually.
Pilot whales are toothed whales around 20-25 feet in length and can weigh up to five tons. They are highly vocal, social animals swimming in groups called schools that can number in the hundreds. Pilot whales use echo-location to navigate and hunt for squid their principal prey. Often, entire schools of pilot whales will beach themselves and eventually die. It is not known whether such mass-stranding events are navigational errors by the whales or deliberate acts to help sick or injured group members at risk from drowning. Although still considered common pilot whales are at risk from marine pollution, over-fishing of squid and fish-stocks, entanglement in fish-nets, and whaling.
