r/interestingasfuck • u/TerraByteTerror • 6h ago

White orcas spotted at Rausu, Japan

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u/superpowerpinger 6h ago

Japanese wont hunt them down?

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u/SurayaThrowaway12 2h ago

They won't. As stated by marine scientist Emma Luck:

Killer whales are no longer hunted or captured in Japan.

Orcas are celebrated in Rausu - this town is home to thriving whale-watching businesses. Additionally, killer whale-themed shops and cafes are scattered throughout the area, emphasizing the importance of killer whales to the local economy.

The last live orca capture in Japan happened in Taiji in 1997.

The whale species still hunted in Japan are rorquals such as minke, sei, and fin whales caught by commercial whaling vessels, as well as various smaller dolphin species caught in Taiji.