World Wide Fund (WWF) Cultural Challenges

Whaling tradition in Lamalera

The other example is the whaling. Whale itself is known as a marine mammal and also the largest animal that still exists today. Whales have an important role in marine ecosystems as well as sharks. Only whales have a larger size, whales also maintain the circulation of nutrients, plantons, and fish in the ocean. 

In some developed countrym such Alaska and Russia has this tradition, but they have the official permission to continue the tradition. different things that can be found in Lamalera, East Nusa Tenggara. This tradition still cointue not jus because it is only a tradition but also because of the need for food which is believed to have existed for hundreds of years before. In Indonesia itself there is no regulation to hunt whales. 

The whales that are often hunted by the Lamalera community are sperm whales which are included in the list of endangered whales. Besides whales, dolphins are also hunted for consumption. things like this of course become homework for environmental organizations while they strive for diversity of animal that is a challenge by tradition and culture that is rooted in a certain community. One of the things that are being tried to reduce this whale scavenging is whale watching tours for the tourist. 

This effort has not been able to erase the existing tradition but it can reduce the whaling itself.

Sumber: kompas.com