1,400 dolphins killed in Faeroe Islands, sparking outrage

PARIS >> The custom of whale and dolphin hunting, known as grindadrap, is a centuries-old practice in the Faeroe Islands and a key part of many locals’ diet. And many Faeroese, part of Denmark, point to regulations including rules around the killing of mammals aimed at making the practice sustainable as a reason to keep the tradition alive.

But when more than 1,400 whitesided dolphins were killed there last weekend, the largest ever recorded such catch in the area, and when local news media published graphic images and video showing the beached dolphins being dragged up in bloody waters, even some supporters of the hunts were upset.

Now the scale of the slaughter, which took place Sunday near Skalabotnur, has prompted outrage from animal rights campaigners and caused divisions among those who believe dolphins should not be hunted and those who say they are still acting sustainably.