The mass slaughter was carried out by residents of the islands, some 440 miles from the coast of the UK in Atlantic Ocean, in a centuries-old tradition. The horrific slaughter of the mammals – known as a “grindadrap” – is conducted several times a year for whale meat and blubber. Residents say the practice helps to feed the population of the island and make goods for the winter months.

Dolphins were also targeted by Faroese in the cull.

Images showed the full horror of the massacre, with one showing an unborn whale calf cut from the womb of its dead mother.

Young children were shown looking at the dead animals, while tourists looked on – metres away from the slaughtered mammals.

Despite Faroese nationals claiming the practice is regulated by law, campaign groups have hit out and said grinding is inhumane – and wants the practice outlawed altogether.

Cruelty charity Sea Shepherd UK documented the killing in the bay of Hvalvik, which took place last Friday.

The charity says it is the 10th whale hunt in the region so far this year, with an estimated total of 536 pilot whales slaughtered in 2019.

In September 2018, the charity offered the Faroe Islands €1million (£917,255.00) to stop the practice of Whale hunting in the region.

A spokesman for the group said: “Over the course of the lengthy drive more and more members of the public and tourists could be seen stopping along the coastline to watch the family of pilot whales struggle and resist.

READ MORE: Horror of WHALE MASSACRE: Gruesome cull in Faroe Islands turns sea red

“As is often the case, the grind was swiftly becoming a social event with parents laughing and chatting as children played on the killing beach.

“The level of excitement was clearly growing as anticipation of the brutality came closer, epitomising the social aspect of the grind was the sight of a youth group – possibly a guides or scout group – sat eagerly watching and waiting.”

The charity detailed at length the horrors they documented during the hunt.

The spokesman then added: “Grind participants ran cheering into the pod to start attaching ropes and pulling individuals out to begin slaughtering.

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“Though, as usual, the ‘humane’ process of killing the pilot whales was far from it, with multiple unsuccessful attempts to paralyse the with the lance were observed on a number of the pod.

“Having previously observed other pilot whale drives our crew noted that this pod had clearly been worn out or resigned to their fate as little to no cries were heard from the pod.

“As the family were laid out on the docks the all too familiar and disturbing images of children jumping on and playing with the dead could be seen.

“As the process continued crew witnessed one juvenile being laid out to be butchered and the harrowing sight of one unborn calf being cut from their mother’s womb.

“The calf appeared to be mere days or weeks from being born. In another case a small fetus was witnessed being removed.

“Our crew learnt from one participant that the unborn are not eaten and would later be ‘returned to the sea’, an eloquent way of saying their bodies will be unceremoniously dumped.

“The Faroese often talk of the tradition behind the grindadrap and specifically the respect shown to the pilot whales.

“Video and photographs from the 10th grind of 2019 clearly show this not to be the case, with images of people and tourists taking selfies with the murdered pod.

“Children were playing with fins, kicking and punching the bodies, walking on them and worryingly seen running around the dock carrying the traditional knives that are used as part of the grindadrap.”

Last month, Japan announced it would resume whale hunting for the first time following a three decade ban on the practice.

The country decided to return to commercial whaling after Tokyo withdrew its participation from the International Whaling Commission.

Japan insisted that whaling is a part of the country’s tradition. 

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