Carved and painted boat rudder; traditional whaling village of Lamalera, island of Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. Lamalera village hunts sperm whale and other deep-sea species for subsistence. This 600-year hunting tradition using only sail and paddle power is allowed under International Whaling Commission regulations concerning aboriginal whaling. Some conservationists worry that commercial whaling also takes place, and that hunters use their engine-powered boats year round to catch other protected species such as manta rays, orcas, dolphins and oceanic sharks. However, Lamalera and Lamakera (on the neighbouring island of Solor) are the last two remaining Indonesian whaling communities.
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