By Kirsten Massebeau and Barbara Napoles
The Pithing Tool is used to sever the spine behind the blowhole a cruel and inhumane practice of slaughtering dolphins. An example can be seen in footage from Taiji hunters instructed by the Faroe Islanders in the slaughtering technique.
The suffering of highly intelligent beings has begun as the Faroe Grind Summer 2014 takes the lives of 13 long finned pilot whales, a large dolphin that migrates through the North Atlantic. The small family of whales was driven into the shores of Fuglafjørður a village on Eysturoy’s east coast in the Faroe Islands. Its name means “fjord of birds”. The village is at the edge of a bay and expands into the surrounding steep hills. Despite scientific findings that dolphins have large complex brains, languages, and cultures the terrible hunt continues.
The small pod of dolphins are only the beginning of grindadráps that will span the summer and into the early fall slaughtering 1000’s of the large dolphins many of whom are pregnant at this time of year as they migrate through the North Atlantic past the Faroe Islands. The species is IUCN Red Listed as Data deficient, the meat is toxic, and the killing method inhumane yet the slaughter of 1000’s continues. The world has spoken out against the grind with Disney Cruise Lines recently altering their summer dropping the Faroe Islands from their route:
Champions for Cetaceans 
Reblogged this on ashleysanimaladvocacy and commented:
I was also going to blog this. Thank you for posting!!
I’ve seen this, I know about it, yet each time I revisit, I’m stuck for a moment. I struggle for the words to express my disgust at the insanity, the barbarity, the stupidity. I can’t turn the volume high enough on my reaction for this; it’s an anger beyond words, a sadness beyond tears.
How is it any different to the way pigs and cows and chickens and sheep are slaughtered to put food on the table in western society? What gives a pilot whale more right to live than a cow? Its not barbaric its just different to your social norms, stop being such a close minded asshole, this a part of Faroese and all the meat is used… would you call a native American Barbaric for killing a buffalo? would you call a Lion barbaric for killing a gazelle? Kill it and Eat it, you probably wouldn’t understand living a pampered lifestyle where everything comes in neat packages for you…the grind is alot more humane than what goes on in most slaughterhouses…
a part of Faroese culture*
“Culture” is static and every changing. I would love to see a connection between the Faroese and the whales that celebrated their history but acknowledged their superior intelligence and all they have to teach us. “Celebrate” don’t harm these amazing beings. Let culture evolve in a positive way!
Cetaceans are higher beings with brains similar and in many ways more complex than human brains. Their emotional centers are highly involved! Actually their culture ties are so beyond mans. The pilot whale truly has so much to teach us as all cetaceans. They are the people of the sea and I feel sorry for you that your are unable to understand or connect with these higher beings. I live on a Coast line where the dolphins hang way out. We don’t see them often. To be so lucky to celebrate their lives. I guess I am just sorry that you have missed this amazing opportunity I only dream of having to interact and commune with the people of the sea.