Despite the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling, some countries continue to hunt and kill whales: Japan, Iceland and Norway, most notably. These countries have taken advantage of the IWC scientific whaling clause and other loopholes to continue their hunts over the past 24 years.

Since the moratorium was adopted in 1986, more than 25,000 whales have been intentionally hunted and killed by Japan, Iceland, Norway and other past whaling nations. Many of these deaths are linked to the so-called scientific whaling program in Japan, which continues to slaughter hundreds of whales every year.

Learn more about modern whale hunts