138 whales killed in organised slaughter

NEARLY 140 pilot whales have been slaughtered in the worst mass killing campaigners have recorded.

- Steph Spyro

A pod of more than 200 were hunted and driven into a beach at Hvannasund in the Faroe Islands, 200 miles north of Scotland.

At least 138 animals were killed for their meat and blubber while the remaining pod was left in the shallow bloodied waters in the fjord.

Valentina Crast of the Sea Shepherd marine conservation group said: "The brutality of this hunt exceeded anything we've documented before, as a pod of more than 200 pilot whales were hunted and driven for hours and later divided."

Locals surround pods using speed boats then drive them towards shore where they are slaughtered using sharp lances, similar to a spear.

Whaling which is called grindadrap in the Faroe Islands - usually takes place during the summer.

But a hunt can be called at any time and the brutal cull on Saturday was the second of the year.