TROUBLED WATERS - Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

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A REVIEW OF THE WELFARE IMPLICATIONS OF MODERN WHALING ACTIVITIES
for the task. The correct target area was established using external features as landmarks, so that
bullets could be delivered directly to the brain.
Initially the high-energy 12.7x99mm (.50) cartridge was evaluated as it produced 17291 joules
(12757ftlb) of energy. A variety of different bullet variants were trialed, but tests showed that in
many cases the bullets lost momentum once they had struck bone, and often deviated from their
path and began to ‘key hole’ (turn on their side). To determine penetration and tendency to deviate
from the flight path, assorted bullets were evaluated in soft clay. All the assorted 12.7x99 bullets
tested began to ‘keyhole’ after travelling 150mm to 300mm in the test clay. Maximum penetration in
the clay was 800-850mm. From this it was concluded that the 12.7x99mm (.50) was not capable of
euthanasing an animal of this size or with the specific anatomy peculiar to the sperm whale.
One of the problems often associated with these high-energy cartridges is the fact that the bullets are
often in a state of yaw (turning about their vertical axis). Since they can easily be deflected from their
flight path, they are not, therefore, well suited to penetrating tissue in order to reach a brain buried
1.2 metres deep. Thus, consideration was given to the largest calibre that could, conceivably, be
carried and operated by an individual – the 14.5x114mm. Testing in clay produced a 90 per cent
better penetration than the 12.7x99mm round, but at point blank range there was still excessive yaw
and deflection. To overcome this a special bullet was designed. When fired, the full length of this
new projectile was just in contact with the inside of the barrel, ensuring maximum stability at the
muzzle. The projectile had a flat tip and a very poor ballistic coefficient. The latter ensured that the
projectile would not travel any appreciable distance if it exited the whale. The flat tip assisted the
projectile’s stability as it travelled to the brain and also produced a large shock wave so as to impart
maximum energy as it travelled through the brain. A monolithic solid was used for ease of
manufacture and so as not to distort during penetration.
The result of this research was the 14.5 SWED (sperm whale euthanasia device) which produces a
velocity of 1006mt/sec (3300fps) and 31134 joules (22978ft-lb) of energy at the muzzle. Testing in
clay showed penetration of close to two metres with no deflection. The SWED was designed to be
used by the operator standing alongside it, so that their arms are free to absorb the recoil.
Killing methods used during whaling operations
In sharp contrast to the accuracy implicit in the effective euthanasia of stranded cetaceans which, as
discussed, can include carefully placing three shots across the target area at close range, the methods
used during whaling operations are highly unsatisfactory in their potential for accuracy. This is due to
several factors, not least of which is the range at which the animals are shot.
Other variables that affect the accuracy of methods used during whaling relate to the weapon used,
the conditions of the hunt and the specific characteristics of the species killed. All weapons used
during whaling should be able to penetrate blubber, muscle and bone in order to reach the target
area, (preferably the brain) with sufficient energy to cause irreversible insensibility or death. The
brain is the preferred target since observations of laboratory and food animals during slaughter
demonstrate that instantaneous unconsciousness is only achieved when the brain itself is
traumatically injured in the thalamic region (Anon 1999). The efficiency of weapons used, is
therefore, also dependent on the area targeted and the angle at which the shot is fired (relating to
both the proximity and orientation of the vessel to the whale). The accuracy of the gunner and their