Luke Duggleby

INDONESIA: WHALE HUNTERS OF LAMALERA

The Indonesian village of Lamalera has hunted whales, sharks and dolphins for the last 500 years. Their method is to leap from a small wooden boat with a long harpoon made of bamboo and spear the animal.

Once brought to shore the animal is divided in to parts and distributed to the community, partly for consumption and partly for exchanging with other inland communities for corn and rice.

On the 21st May 2009 at the World Oceans Conference, the Indonesian government officially declared 3.5 million hectares of critical marine habitat in the Savu Sea for conservation. Though government representatives have assured that traditional whaling — which has been supporting the surrounding communities’ means of living — will not be banned in the area immediately outside the zone, concerns still remain.

Lamalera is one of the last remaining Indonesian whaling communities and is categorized by the International Whaling Commission as aboriginal whaling.

Using wind, a traditional wooden whale hunting boat sails through the ocean. During the whole voyage the harpooner stands ready on the front of the boat with harpoon to his right.
  
Having spotted a large basking shark the boat holds its position and the harpooner leaps from the boat spearing the shark in the head.
   
Having finally subdued the shark the fishermen take it in turns to leap in to the sea to begin cutting it up in to small enough piece to take back to shore.
     
  
Two pilot whales are brought to the beach after being harpooned. Once on the beach the body is cut in specific parts and distributed to everyone involved in the hunting from the captain to the boat maker.
   
Familys light candles on the beach during the ceremony of 'misa arwah'. A remembrance service held once a year to pay respects to those who died at sea during a hunt, numbering 36 since 1917.
   
Taking a break from dissecting a pilot whale he drinks the local coconut spirit called 'tuak'.
     
  
A partly dissected dolphin on the beach.
   
The skull of a whale rests on the rocky coastline where Lamalera village sits.
   
A harpooned manta ray is brought back to shore, too heavy to lift he pushs it off the side of the boat.
     
  
Master harpooners congregate on the beach wearing their sunday best during the ceremony of 'misa lefa'. Held once a year and led by Catholic priests to bless the fishing boats and pray for a successful season.
   
A Catholic priest walks down the beach blessing the fishing boats during the ceremony of 'misa lefa'. Held once a year and led by Catholic priests to bless the fishing boats and pray for a successful season.
   
Two pilot whales are brought to the beach after being harpooned. Once on the beach the body is cut in specific parts and distributed to everyone involved in the hunting from the captain to the boat maker.
     
  
With the basking shark attached to the side of the boat the fishermen work fast, scared of other sharks, to cut the body in to small enough pieces to put on the boat.
   
A girl carries a large bowl on her head full of manta ray fins. She is going to distribute the parts to members of the village. In Lamalera everything is shared throughout the village, the size of your share depending on the job you perform.
   
Two pilot whales are brought to the beach after being harpooned. Once on the beach the body is cut in specific parts and distributed to everyone involved in the hunting from the captain to the boat maker.
     
  
Two pilot whales are brought to the beach after being harpooned. Once on the beach the body is cut in specific parts and distributed to everyone involved in the hunting from the captain to the boat maker.
   
Villagers receive the Body of Christ during the ceremony of 'misa lefa'. Held once a year and led by Catholic priests to bless the fishing boats and pray for a successful season.
   
During a traditional whale hunt in a wooden boat called a 'pradang' men pray before hoisting the mast and sailing to the deep ocean.
     
  
Whale backbones hang on the outside of a house in Lamalara village.
   
Sunday Mass in Lamalera Church. The first Dutch missionary came here in the mid-19th century.
   
A fishmean holds the penis of a large whale caught the previous year. Hanging it to dry they eat it for sexual strength.
     
  
A older fisherman repairs the sail of a traditional boat. Few fishermen are left who have this skill.
   
During the heat of the day, men repair their nets.
   
During a traditional whale hunt the fishermen all have their position on the boat and keep constant look-out for signs of whales, sharks, manta ray or dolphin.
     
  
The fishermen attempt to hold the head of the basking shark in place before pulling it on to the boat.
   
A man dissects two small dolphins brought to shore.
   
With the basking shark attached to the side of the boat the fishermen work fast, scared of other sharks, to cut the body in to small enough pieces to put on the boat.
     
  
Two pilot whales are brought to the beach after being harpooned. Once on the beach the body is cut in specific parts and distributed to everyone involved in the hunting from the captain to the boat maker.
   
A Catholic priet leads the ceremony of 'misa arwah'. A remembrance service held once a year to pay respects to those who died at sea during a hunt, numbering 36 since 1917.
   
Children play on the body of a pilot whale brought to shore.
     
  
A large whale rib bone from an old catch lies on the beach.
   
Women carrying baskets on their heads walk through the village of Lamalera.
   
Fisherman carry large pieces of manta ray to the beach that they have just caught.
     
  
Fishermen arrange their net on the boat before a thunder storm.
   
Pieces of manta ray hang on drying racks on the beach. Three small pieces of manta ray, each approximately 6 inches by 3 inches can be exchanged for one kilo of rice with the hilltribe people living in the islands interior.
   
The fins of a large manta ray dry on a rock on the beach.
     
  
The fishermen also use nets for smaller fish, carrying them to shore after a night on the boat.
   
At the house of a local artist the walls are covered with paintings of the whale hunt.
   
Two children fight over the ownership of the fin tip of a pilot whale. Once on the beach the whale is cut in specific parts and distributed to everyone involved in the hunting from the captain to the boat maker.
     
  
Whale rib bones and spine from a catch the previous year are placed on a rock on the rocky shore surrounding the village.
   
Young children imitate their heroes by diving off rocks pretending to harpoon fish.
   
Dionisius Beding carries a net to shore after returning from a night at sea.