According to news reports from the Faroe islands, yet another drive whale hunt took place today in  Sandagerði, with 108 whales having been killed as of 18:00 local time today, 23rd of July. 

Unfortunately, this is at least the fourth drive hunt in as many weeks;  50 whales were killed in Vestmanna on the morning of June 24th,  and 193 whales were killed in Husavik on July 9th.  A much-publicized drive hunt took place in Klaksvik earlier this week as well, in which at least 250 whales were killed on the 19th of July.

This apparent escalation comes after two years of  some respite for the whales.  In 2008, not a single pilot whale was killed in a drive hunt, while in 2009, 310 pilot whales and 177 other cetacean species were killed.  The numbers taken in a single month in 2010 are already far in excess of 2009.

While much public attention has been focused on the takes of the larger pilot whales, data provided by the Faroes government also shows that dolphins are being targeted; more than 3200 of these smaller cetaceans have been killed since 1999.

In June, WDCS also reported on the apparent interest by the Faroe Islands in resuming commercial whaling for larger whales.