The document discusses whale welfare and compares it to practices for slaughtering farm animals. It notes that whaling methods can result in whales taking 2.5-3 minutes on average to die, and up to 1.5 hours in some cases. Large whale hunts in Iceland and Japan are also discussed. The document concludes that whaling is inherently cruel due to unavoidable suffering, and is bad for both whale welfare and industries like whale watching that aim to observe whales in their natural environment without harm.
4. The lives of whales Images courtesy: James Cook University, Minke whale project ‘ Pavlova’
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7. The results How many die immediately? Using most recent Japanese and Norwegian data, an average of 48% of whales die instantaneously 2889 1080 100 100
Grateful for opportunity to speak about whale welfare and the ethics of whaling at this extremely important, progressive and productive meeting. A short introduction – who is WSPA? The world’s largest federation of animal welfare societies, with over 800 member societies in more than 147 countries. 12 offices worldwide and over 500,000 Supporters around the world. The WSPA has consultative status at both the United Nations and the Council of Europe. What does the WSPA believe? WSPA is an animal welfare organisation, not animal rights. We believe that: Animals have biologically determined instincts and needs and can experience both pain and suffering Animals should be permitted to live their lives free from avoidable suffering at the hands of humans Unnecessary animal suffering should be prevented Opposed to the killing of animals when it can be proven that it is inhumane – this is why we are here today and opposed to whaling WSPA’s vision is ‘a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends’. Our Mission is to work with governments, stakeholders and the public across the world to ‘build a united global animal welfare movement’.
![What is ‘animal welfare’? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]," The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated ." Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Statesman and Philosopher](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)