For thousands of years, man has hunted whales for food. Ambergris, a waxy material produced by some whales, has been valued as a
perfume ingredient. In the 19th century, baleen, a bony substance that grows in the mouth of certain whales, was used to make ribs for umbrellas and stiffeners in ladies’ dresses. Other species of whales were prized for the valuable oil they yielded, and the demand for this oil almost led to the extinction of the sperm whale. Today, whaling is strictly regulated by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), but some environmental groups believe that all whale hunting should be banned.
Some of those who oppose whaling believe that it is wrong to hunt a group of animals to extinction just for food. They also think whale hunting is immoral because the methods used to kill whales are cruel and inflict intense suffering on the animals. Another reason opposers argue to ban whale hunting is that whales are mammals (like humans) and are one of the most intelligent animals.
Supporters of whale hunting claim that whales are not all the same and that some species of whales have increased in number in recent years. As an example, some note that one species, the minke whale, may number in the millions today. Whale-hunting advocates argue that quotas for the number of minke whales that can be hunted annually could be greatly increased without risking the whales’ extinction.
Those in favor of whale hunting are also quick to point out that pigs, which are also mammals, score higher than dogs, horses, and dolphins on some intelligence tests, yet pork is still eaten in many societies. Native peoples in Alaska and Siberia, where growing crops is not an option, rely on whale meat to feed themselves. These people and their ancestors have hunted whales since prehistoric times. According to commercial whalers, the high-tech harpoons used to kill whales do so quickly and with minimal suffering. The same cannot be said of the techniques used on commercial livestock and poultry, they claim.
There are two sides to the issue of whale hunting, each of which holds strong opinions as to why their viewpoint is correct and the opposing viewpoint is not. For every argument one side makes, the other side has a counter-argument, and this controversy is not likely to be resolved in the near future.
What is one fact used to support one of the stated opinions?
A. Native peoples in Alaska and Siberia, where growing crops is not an option, rely
on whale meat to feed themselves.
B. Whale hunting is immoral because the methods used to kill whales are cruel and inflict
intense suffering on the animals.
C. Whales are mammals (like humans) and are one of the most intelligent animals.
