Grey whales travel up and down the west coast of the Unites States and Canada. Although not an endeangered species a moratorium imposed in 1994 prohibits whaling for the greys. But that did not stop five men from the Makah tribe who live near Neah Bay, Washington from heading out in two boats to kill a grey whale. The poor animal died a painful death at their hands.
One of the men harpooned the whale. Attached to the harpoon were five round buoys. The whale tried desperately to escape but could not dive with the buoys dragging it up and down as it fought for its life.
The men picked up their high powered guns and began shooting. One observer counted 21 shots and called the Coast Guard. The whale struggled for hours to survive. The Coast Guard cut the whale loose from the buoys and freed the animal. It sank to the bottom to die ten hours after the first shots were fired.
The tribal elders did not sanction the hunt. The men who commited the crime think of themselves as heroes. What do you think?
I sometimes wonder if we humans deserve to share the planet with other creatures. This is a sad Blog but I thought the whale deserved to have its dying story told. I hope there's a safe haven or heaven for whales. They are amazing creatures and deserve our respect, admiration and protection
Anita
www.anitabirt.com
2 comments:
I think you missed afew things and were wrong on some.
First the last time the Makah Tribe hunted whale was in 1920,They stopped voluntarilly so thewhale herd can grow again since it was the white commerical whalers who almost made them instinct.
After the endangered species ban was lifted the Makah requested to resume their whale huntin rights per the 1855 Treatie. They were able to do so with some changes. In 1999 they again hunted their first whale but the IWC and the US GOv. told them to take a .50 claiber RIFLE to finish the whale off AFTER the harpoons so the whale will die quicker.
These 5 men DID break laws, unlcuding Tribal Law, but it was not because of them that the whale suffered a long death.The Coast Gaurd apprehended them before they could finish the kill.They even requested to do so but was denied by the Coast Gaurd.It was THE Coast Guard that let it die a long painful death.
Thanks for putting me straight. I regret the misinformation.
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