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                 The Cruelty Aspect of Norwegian Whaling

The Norwegian authorities focus their argumentation in favor of Minke whaling
upon population size, sustainable "harvesting", responsible management of a
non-endangered species, etc., ignoring the aspect of animal cruelty.  However,
results from the 1993 season show that a large number of whales suffer just as
greatly as they did when caught with the now banned cold harpoon.  The inhumane
killing method used in the whale hunting is therefore, unacceptable.

Prior to 1984, Minke whales were caught with the so-called cold harpoon which
contained no explosives.  In 1984, and as a result of international pressure,
Norway agreed to ban the use of the cold harpoon because of the suffering it
inflicted upon the animals.  Subsequently, only the so-called penthrite grenade
with explosives was allowed.  Studies showed that more animals were killed
instantly with the penthrite grenade than with the cold harpoon.  But for
animals that survived beyond ten seconds after being hit, the survival times
were about the same.

Official records from inspectors on board the whaling vessels during the
1984-86 and 1992 hunting seasons show that there was only slight improvement in
the penthrite grenade catching method during these years.  This also applies to
the 1993 season, when new regulations regarding shooting tests, maximum
shooting distance, etc., went into effect.

When comparing the length of time harpooned whales survived during the 1984-86
season to the 1993 season, data shows that instant killings increased from only
45 percent to 50 percent.  The average survival time decreased from 6.5 minutes
to 3.5 minutes, but many whales survived much longer during both hunting
seasons.  In 1993 whales were recorded to have survived for 5,10,20,25,30,40,
and 50 minutes, which is not better than during 1984-86.  These results imply
that many whales survived initial impact and suffered tremendously for a
considerable length of time with the harpoon lodged in their bodies.

The suffering endured by the roughly 100 whales not instantly killed in 1993 is
comparable to the pain inflicted by the banned cold harpoon.  The whales are
dragged to the boat by a wire fastened in the wound exactly as they were when
hit by a cold harpoon.  Biologists agree that whales, as highly evolved
animals, can feel pain as acutely as human beings do.  Whale hunting,
therefore, means subjecting the whales to a degree of suffering that we
consider totally unacceptable.

It is especially alarming that about 60 percent of the females caught were
pregnant.  It is a principle of law to try to avoid killing the female animals
during the breeding season.  It is also against the moral grain of most people
to hunt pregnant animals.  Yet it is freely done in whaling.

We disagree with the Norwegian authorities when they claim that the methods
employed in Minke whaling compare favorably with those used in the hunting of
large land-based animals.  We also object to the statement that whaling is no
worse than slaughtering.  Imagine an elephant shot with a harpoon lodged in the
wound for up to an hour.  If this were to happen, there would be a public
outcry and such a hunting method would be denounced by a large majority as
contrary to any standards for humane killing of animals.  Yet this is exactly
what goes on in whaling.  The only difference is that it takes place under
water.

We urge the reader of this statement to protest against Norwegian whale hunting
on the grounds that it inflicts extreme suffering upon the animals.  The
suffering is all the more senseless as whaling is only of marginal economic
importance to Norway where meat is at a surplus.  The economic impact on local
communities can be offset by switching to whale watching instead of killing.

   Sea Shepherd Log, 1994


STOP THE INHUMANE SLAUGHTER!  Send letters protesting Norwegian and Japanese
whaling to:

   International Whaling Commission
   Dr. R. Gambell, Secretary
   The Red House
   135, Station Road, Histon
   CAMBRIDGE CB4 4NP
   Email: ca100@phoenix.cambridge.ac.uk


                                ADDENDUM

Norway and Japan are currently violating the IWC ban on commercial whaling
under an exemption for scientific whaling which enables them to slaughter
hundreds of whales every year for unnecessary research.  The whales are taken
by commercial ships and the meat is sold commercially.  Norway and Japan are
not interested in what whales eat, they want to eat whales!

If Norway and Japan were really interested in conducting scientific research on
whales they could use the nonlethal method described in the following technical
summary titled "A Baseline Method to Evaluate Chemico-biological Interactions
Involving Cetacea" by Richard H. Lambertsen, Ph.D., V.M.D.  The full report is
available from:

   U.S. Department of the Interior.
   949 E. 36th Ave, Rm 603, Anchorage,
   Alaska 99508-4302 USA


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