Ritual Slaughter: The Tradition of Pilot Whale Hunting on the Faroe Islands

Abstract

Faroese people consider grindadráp, the hunting of pilot whales, as a part of their cultural heritage, but from the point of view of veterinary sciences and biology, the method of killing pilot whales is a form of a ritual slaughter performed on fully conscious animals that are aware of their circumstances. Pilot whales are social, intelligent, and communicative animals that demonstrate complex social behaviors. Therefore, this traditional whaling method should be considered as a procedure in which animals are exposed to high levels of distress. In the context of contemporary civilizational development and material welfare, the practice of whaling may appear to be an inadequate and cruel relic of the past. This text explores social and cultural issues caused by pilot whale hunts and presents an understanding of the term tradition and some perspectives of how traditions change. The specificity of pilot whales as a species is presented, setting a foundation for a discussion about hunting itself. The conclusion of the text discusses different social perceptions of grindadráp by presenting arguments for and against the hunting. This analysis includes a presentation of actions undertaken bywhale hunting opponents.

High exposure variance enables candidate biomarker detection in a small EWAS of methylmercury-exposed Peruvian adults

“…However, not all studies of low dose MeHg exposure point to clear autoimmune responses in exposed individuals 33-35 , and there are noted beneficial effects of other nutrients contained within MeHg-contaminated fish and seafood, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that support healthy brain development in infants and children 9,36 and cardiovascular protection to adults 37,38 . In addition, some communities have strong cultural connections to foodways centered on fish and seafood that should be considered in this cost benefit analysis 39 . Considering the increasing environmental levels of MeHg with climate change 40-42 and the projected increase in human exposure 43,44 , understanding the individualized cost-benefit relationship between toxic and healthful outcomes of fish consumption is an important public health priority.…”

Pemanfaatan Hukum Internasional oleh Pemerintah Denmark sebagai Upaya Perlindungan Tradisi Grindadrap di Kepulauan Faroe

“…Secara harfiah dalam bahasa Faroe, Grindadrap berarti pembantaian paus pilot, yang mana kata "drap" bermakna "pembantaian". Sejarah dari tradisi Grindadrap di Kepulauan Faroe diawali dari penangkapan-penangkapan paus yang mana aktivitas ini sangat erat kaitannya dengan kehidupan masyarakat di Kepulauan Faroe pada abad ke-6 (Mamzer, 2021). Berdasarkan temuan arkeologis, dokumen pertama yang terpublikasi terkait dengan perburuan paus pilot tercantum di dalam dokumen bernama Sheep Letter yaitu sebuah dekrit kerajaan yang disahkan 1298 oleh seorang adipati yang kemudian diangkat menjadi seorang raja Norwegia.…”

“…Pada tradisi ini, Kepulauan Faroe memanfaatkan sumber daya paus yang ada di wilayah maritimnya, dengan jumlah tangkapan rata-rata 900 -1000 ekor paus setiap tahunnya. Berdasarkan pada data yang dipaparkan oleh International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species, bahwa Paus Pilot (Globicephala males) bukan merupakan kategori cetacean yang terancam punah, dengan perkiraan ratarata sekitar 1000 ekor Paus Pilot yang terbunuh per tahun hanya mewakili 0,1% dari total perkiraan stok Paus Pilot, sehingga populasi Paus Pilot tidak memenuhi syarat sebagai jenis paus yang hampir terancam atau bahkan dalam status konservasi (Mamzer, 2021).…”

“…Berkaitan dengan pasal tersebut, dalam hal ini Kepulauan Faroe telah menjadikan tradisi Grindadrap sebagai sebuah tradisi yang berkelanjutan. Bagi orang-oang Kepulauan Faroe, Grindadrap bukan hanya sekedar tradisi dan mitologi semata, namun juga merupakan cara bagi mereka untuk memenuhi asupan pangan nasioal yang telah lama ditetapkan dalam Sheep Letter (Mamzer, 2021). Selain itu Kepulauan Faroe juga memiliki regulasi khusus terkait perburuan pausnya sendiri yang terus akan diperbaharui.…”

Deer Hunting Tradition of the Kuligang Community to Identify the Types of Sports Branches (Ethnographic Study)

“…In those days, hunting was one of the most important activities besides performing rituals on objects that had supernatural powers as a sign of human gratitude for the abundant catch. [8]. Hunting activities have become a hereditary tradition that is preserved and maintains its authenticity to this day [9].…”