"Hunted Dead or Still Alive" - A new report reveals the cruelty of whaling.

WDCS, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society For Immediate Release: 17th June 2003 "Hunted Dead or Still Alive" - A new report reveals the cruelty of whaling. A new report, by WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), reveals that the suffering caused by whaling is much greater than previously thought. In particular, the report highlights that there is currently no adequate way to judge when whales are no longer able to feel pain, or when they are dead. At a special Workshop on Whale Killing Methods, held in advance of the main International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Berlin this week, it was shown that the methods used by whaling nations to determine when hunted whales are actually dead are inaccurate, and that they may be grossly underestimating the time these animals take to die. During the workshop, Greenland reported a maximum time to death for its minke whale hunt in West Greenland of 300 minutes - some 5 hours. There was also concern expressed for the welfare of whales that are struck during whaling operations and then lost, due to the harpoon pulling out or the rope breaking. These animals are rarely recovered and may suffer considerably. In the Greenland hunt for beluga whales the struck and lost rate may be as high as 50% in some areas, i.e. for every 2 belugas killed only one is landed. The main measure used by the IWC for assessing the cruelty involved in whaling operations is the 'time to death'. This is measured from the time the animal is first wounded to the point at which it is determined to be dead according one of three criteria set by the IWC; relaxed lower jaw, cessation of flipper movement OR sinking without active movement. However this measurement does not take into consideration the extent of wounding, or the stress caused to the whale from the inadequacy of the weapons used. "The IWC needs to re-evaluate very carefully the way in which it assesses how whales suffer during whaling activities. "Time to death" is insufficient as an indicator for measuring suffering in hunted whales", said Philippa Brakes, consultant for WDCS and HSUS. "The IWC should now turn its attention to the methods used for killing different species and the extent of injuries they cause." ENDS For more information, to arrange interviews or for a copy of the report, please contact Georgina Davies, WDCS on +44(0)7787516635. www.hsus.org www.wdcs.org ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/06/17/20030617BIT00540/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/06/17/20030617BIT00540/wkr0002.pdf