Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vfjqv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-28T17:36:22.159Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An Analysis of Behaviour and Killing Times Recorded During a Pilot Whale Hunt

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

D Bowles  and
J Lonsdale
D Bowles*
Affiliation:
Environmental Investigation Agency, 2 Pear Tree Court, London EC1R ODS, UK
J Lonsdale
Affiliation:
Environmental Investigation Agency, 2 Pear Tree Court, London EC1R ODS, UK
*
† Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Data are presented on a number of aspects of a drive hunt of a pod of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas; Traill) which occurred in the Faroe Islands in July 1992. Empirical data collected by observers are presented on aspects of the drive and killing phase of the drive hunt. These focus on the welfare implications of the two main pieces of equipment used in the hunt, the gaff and the knife. The body zone targeted by the gaff ranged from the melon to the dorsal fin. Ten of the 14 initial uses of the gaff recorded resulted in the whale being insecurely fastened and entailed further gaff strikes. Five case studies are presented of towing times, before cutting occurred but post-gaffing, when the whale was secured by the gaff to a boat (median: 66s). The number of gaff strikes on an individual whale ranged from zero to four (median: two). Fifty-seven per cent of cutting episodes using the knife were initiated behind the blowhole, 43per cent on the whales ‘flanks. Data on the sequential use of the gaff and the knife are presented for seven whales. Data are also presented on the duration of the cutting episodes for these seven whales (median: 80s) and the total time elapsed from initial wounding until loss of voluntary movement occurred (median: 126s). Certain behaviours shown by the whale after the use of the gaff and knife are discussed and analysed in the context of the physiology, anatomy and social structure of pilot whales. Conclusions are presented on a number of welfare aspects of this hunt and compared with data from other whaling operations.

Keywords

animal welfaredrive huntFaroe Islandskilling efficiencylong-finned pilot whalewhaling
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 3 , Issue 4 , November 1994 , pp. 285 - 304
Copyright
© 1994 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Amos, B, Bloch, D, Desportes, G, Majerus, TMO, Bancroft, D R, Barrett, J A and Dover, G A 1993 A review of molecular evidence relating to social organisation and breeding system in the long-finned pilot whale. In Donovan, G P, Lockyer, C H and Martin, A R (eds) Biology of Northern Hemisphere Pilot Whales pp 209–219. Report of International Whaling Commission Special Issue 14. IWC: CambridgeGoogle Scholar
Anon 1980 Report of the workshop on humane killing techniques for whales. IWC/33/15. International Whaling CommissionGoogle Scholar
Anon 1988 Response from the Danish Government on the methods used in the Faroese pilot whale hunt. TC/40/HK5. International Whaling CommissionGoogle Scholar
Anon 1992 Report of the workshop on humane killing techniques for whales. IWCI44I18. International Whaling CommissionGoogle Scholar
Anon 1994 Report of the Humane Killing Working Group. 46118. International Whaling CommissionGoogle Scholar
Blackmore, D K, Nutman, A, Barnes, G R G, Madie, P, Davies, A S, Bowling, M C, Donoghue, M and Kırk, E J 1994 Preliminary investigation of techniques for killing whales. IWC/46/HK4. International Whaling CommissionGoogle Scholar
Bloch, D, Desportes, G, Hoydal, K and Jean, P 1990 Pilot whaling in the Faroe Islands. North Atlantic Studies Vol 2 Nos 1 & 2: 36–44Google Scholar
Bloch, D, Desportes, G, Mouritsen, R, Skaaning, S and Stefansson, E 1993 An introduction to studies of the ecology and status of the long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) off the Faroe Islands, 1986-1988. In Donovan, G P, Lockyer, C H and Martin, A R (eds) Biology of Northern Hemisphere Pilot Whales pp 1–53. Report of International Whaling Commission Special Issue 14. IWC: CambridgeGoogle Scholar
Borrell, A and Aguilar, A 1993 DDT and PCB pollution in blubber and muscle of long-finned pilot whales from the Faroe Islands. In Donovan, G P, Lockyer, C H and Martin, A R (eds) Biology of Northern Hemisphere Pilot Whales pp 351–359. Report of International Whaling Commission Special Issue 14. IWC: CambridgeGoogle Scholar
Burne, R H 1952 Handbook of Cetacean Dissections. British Museum: LondonGoogle Scholar
Caurant, F, Amiard-Triquet, C and Amiard, J C 1993 Factors influencing the accumulation of metals in pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off the Faroe Islands. In Donovan, G P, Lockyer, C H and Martin, A R (eds) Biology of Northern Hemisphere Pilot Whales pp 369–391. Report of International Whaling Commission Special Issue 14. IWC: CambridgeGoogle Scholar
Geodaetisk Institute 1983 1:200 000 map of the Faroe Islands. Geodaetisk Institute: DenmarkGoogle Scholar
Gibson, J, Thornton, A and Currey, D 1987 Pilot Whaling in the Faroe Islands. Environmental Investigation Agency: LondonGoogle Scholar
Gibson-Lonsdale, J J 1990 Pilot whaling in the Faroe Islands - its history and present significance. Mammal Review 20: 44–52CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Government of Japan 1994 Report on humane killing of Antarctic minke whales for the 1993/4 season. IWCI46IHK5. International Whaling CommissionGoogle Scholar
Hoydal, K 1986 Recent changes to Faroese legislation on whaling. TC/38/HK4. International Whaling CommissionGoogle Scholar
Hoydal, K and Lastein, L 1993 Analysis of Faroese catches of pilot whales (1709-1992) in relation to environmental variations. In Donovan, G P, Lockyer, C H and Martin, A R (eds) Biology of Northern Hemisphere Pilot Whales pp 89–107. Report of International Whaling Commission Special Issue 14. IWC: CambridgeGoogle Scholar
Joensen, J P 1976 Pilot whaling in the Faroe Islands. Ethnologica Scandinavia 63: 932–973Google Scholar
Klinowska, M 1987 Preliminary list of catches, live strandings and sightings of the pilot whale (Globicephala melaena) in the British and Irish islands. SC/93/SM2. International Whaling CommissionGoogle Scholar
Øen, E 1992 Norwegian penthrite grenade for minke whales: hunting trials with prototypes of penthrite grenades in 1984 and results from the 1984, 1985 and 1986 seasons. TWC/44/HK5. International Whaling CommissionGoogle Scholar
Øen, E 1994 Hunting methods for minke whalers in Norway. Report from the 1993 scientific and traditional catch. IWC/46/HK1. International Whaling Commission 1992Google Scholar
Sanderson, K 1991 Whales and Whaling. Department of Fisheries: Torshavn, Faroe IslandsGoogle Scholar
Sergeant, D E 1962 The biology of the pilot or pothead whale Globicephala melaena (Traill) in Newfoundland waters. Bulletin 132, Bulletin of Fisheries Research Board of Canada. FRBC: OttawaGoogle Scholar
Thornton, A and Gibson, J J 1986 Pilot Whaling in the Faroe Islands. Environmental Investigation Agency: LondonGoogle Scholar
Zachariassen, P 1993 Pilot whale catches in the Faroe Islands, 1709-1992. In Donovan, G P, Lockyer, C P and Martin, A R (eds) Biology of Northern Hemisphere Pilot Whales pp 69–89. Report of International Whaling Commission Special Issue 14. IWC: CambridgeGoogle Scholar