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Immediate immobilisation of a Minke whale using a grenade harpoon requires striking a restricted target area

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

TG Knowles  and
A Butterworth
TG Knowles*
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
A Butterworth
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and request for reprints: Toby.Knowles@bristol.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Approximately 1500 Minke whales are killed annually under permit from the International Whaling Commission (IWC). This hunt supports a modest industry in Norway and in Japan; however, the welfare of whales during hunting and killing is such a cause of concern that in 1980 the IWC formed a sub-group entitled ‘Working Group on Whale Killing Methods and Associated Welfare Issues’ devoted to discussing the issue. This commentary suggests that, when using the Norwegian penthrite grenade-tipped harpoon (‘Whalegrenade-99‘), it is necessary to hit a relatively well-defined target area in order to effect an immediately immobile, and presumed unconscious state in the Minke whale.

Keywords

animal welfaregrenadeharpoonhuntkillingMinke whale
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , February 2006 , pp. 55 - 57
Copyright
© 2006 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

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