The murder of a blue whale is denied by the CEO of the Icelandic company Hvalur hf, who says it was a hybrid – Science News

The CEO of the Icelandic whaling company Hvalur hf denied allegations that his company allegedly slaughtered a blue whale earlier this week, claiming that the animal was a hybrid.

Kristjan Loftsson also said hunting whales to prevent strandings and danger to shipping traffic.

million. Loftsson stated that there was no way that his crew had mistakenly killed a blue whale and that it was rather a blue whale and a whale. a fin whale. not protected by the protocol of the International Whaling Commission.

" It seems to me that they really locked themselves in, that they did something really stupid and that everything suddenly the world is focused on them. "

Dr. Gill stated that the color, shape and size of the dorsal fin and the color of the baleen were all characteristic of a blue whale.

Only DNA tests can prove that a whale is a hybrid. 19659002] After the capture of the whale, Hard to Port says that the animal was butchered and the meat mixed with that of other butternut whales

Hybrids whales a gray area of ​​protection

While blue whales are protected, there is no designated status for hybrid whales because they are typically extremely rarely encountered.

Some have accused the company of 39 Use this loophole to hijack the negative examination of the murder.

But Arne Feuerhahn's spokesman for Hard to Port told the BBC the damage had been done. [19659002] "These images leave the world speechless. Thousands come to Iceland to see these animals in the wild and there is just one company that keeps this industry alive in Iceland. "

The Icelandic authorities stated in a statement that they were investigating the case

[This is] being taken seriously by the government and that the competent authorities are investigating the case. of environmental investigation described Loftsson as a "multi-millionaire thug" who perpetuates an unpopular operation in Iceland.

But Mr. Loftsson said the anti-hunt media was generated by negative media and that whaling should be banned t extended o If you do not want to have a lot of problems with the whales that are stranded on the beaches in Australia … you should keep the population in balance, study it eat meat and be happy, "he added.

"The meat is very good, the skin with a little fat … they tell me that the humpback whale is the best for that."

"I'll come back to Brisbane when you start serving whale meat in your