Save the Whales!

. . . . . . . . because they can’t save themselves. You may recognise the origin of the title of this post. The “Save the Whales” effort decades ago was a successful conservation movement that began in the 1970s, fueled by public awareness campaigns and activism, ultimately leading to a global ban on commercial whaling. A key turning point was the discovery and popularization of whale songs, which captured the public’s imagination. It was a time and place where humans got together to do the right thing. Even after that many years, the planet is still under attack.

However, in this instance the attack is from the whales themselves, for reasons that we still don’t really understand. In the video above, courtesy of the always thoughtful, wistful and funny Gylfi Gylfason the creator of the YouTube channel “Just Icelandic” Gylfi focuses on sharing his passion for Iceland through videos, including content related to volcanic activity and other cultural aspects of the country.

This episode highlights a persistent place in Iceland where the whales gather to. beach themselves, inevitably perishing in the process. It’s heartbreaking to watch and, for most of us, we’d want to help. While it may seem helpful to assist beached whales, it’s generally not recommended for the public to intervene. Whales and dolphins beaching themselves often indicate underlying health issues or other problems. Interference by untrained individuals can be risky for both the animal and the people involved.

Iceland can be as thrilling or as uninteresting as a country can get. We’ve been, and we’ve been on the fence. But don’t let us impact your views. Our affiliate partners Expedia can make it as smooth as silk. Click here.