Large pod of pilot whales slaughtered in brutal grind in the Faroe Islands

This morning, 80-100 pilot whales were slaughtered in the second grindadráp (grind) of the year, on the island of Vágar in the northwest of the Faroe Islands archipelago.

Entire pods are dragged up the beach and slaughtered on the sand or in the shallow water.

The hunt, known locally as the grindadrap, draws large crowds. Many people enter the water to help bring the whales to the sand.

Faroe Islanders are allowed to carry out the annual slaughter by law, which is partially devolved from Denmark’s government, although the legality of the practice has been questioned by activists.