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For decades, this magnificent whale swept through the oceans, a 67ft gentle giant, causing no harm to other creatures.

As a rare blue and fin whale hybrid, it would have made an awesome sight rising through the waves.

But, as these shocking images show, the determination of one Icelandic whaler to kill it for profit meant its body has now been hacked to pieces.

The helpless animal was harpooned in international waters by men working for multi-millionaire Kristjan Loftsson, the small country’s most notorious whaling magnate.

(Image: Roger Allen/North Downs Picture Agency)

They fired a harpoon from a state-of-the-art 90mm cannon, which embedded deep into the whale’s flesh.

It was then dragged back to a port north of the capital Reykjavik, strapped to the side of the whaling ship.

Afterwards, the grim butchery began.

Each whale caught by Loftsson’s team is skinned and the corpse is then fed into a huge mechanical saw to be rendered into gigantic slabs of meat.

Blubber, bone and the whale’s intestines are left to rot on the quay.

(Image: Roger Allen/North Downs Picture Agency)

Images taken the following week as a fin whale was processed show Loftsson supervising the operation.

Despite causing outrage around the world – and in his native Iceland – he looked unconcerned.

Loftsson, who first went whale hunting aged 13 with his dad, has vowed to hunt more than 150 whales through the summer after a two-year break caused by poor trading conditions.

Over the next few months, ships belonging to his company Hvalur hf will be patrolling international waters to hit the target.

More than 8,800 tonnes of whale meat and blubber were shipped to Japan in the past decade, despite the ban on international trade in whale meat under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

(Image: Roger Allen/North Downs Picture Agency)

But Loftsson has refused to bow to international condemnation.

He is one of Iceland’s richest men, after reportedly selling part of his company for £150million earlier this year.

Conservationists are calling for an immediate end to commercial whaling in Iceland, after Iceland’s Marine Research Institute carried out genetic analysis and confirmed the animal was the offspring of a female blue and a male fin whale.

Blue whales have been protected under international law since 1966.

Hybrids have previously been recorded by scientists, but are rare and are also protected by international conventions, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

(Image: Roger Allen/North Downs Picture Agency)

Sigursteinn Masson, who represents IFAW in Iceland, said: “The killing of a blue-fin whale hybrid demonstrates the difficulty for whalers at sea to identify which species they are pursuing.

“The result is that a rare and protected species has suffered as collateral damage from a cruel, unnecessary and increasingly unpopular hunt.

“Now that the evidence has been confirmed, we once again call for an immediate and permanent end to this whaling to prevent further harm to these endangered species, which not only play a crucial role within the marine ecosystem, but also embody such a rich national and cultural heritage as well.”

(Image: Roger Allen/North Downs Picture Agency)

Loftsson announced his intention to resume killing fin whales earlier this year after a three-year hiatus.

The hunt began last month, with a quota of 238.

However many in Iceland are opposed to whaling.

The country’s economy is boosted by £2.5billion a year from foreign tourists, many of whom visit to see the natural scenery and unique wildlife, including on whale-watching trips.

More than half of restaurants in Reykjavik have signed up to be “Whale Friendly”, with a pledge not to serve whale meat.

And a recent IFAW poll showed only 1% of Icelanders eat whale meat regularly, while 81% have never tried it.

Mr Masson said: “IFAW has worked alongside Icelanders for many years to promote responsible whale watching, rather than whale killing.

“This is better for whales, Iceland’s tourism industry and its international reputation.”

(Image: Roger Allen/North Downs Picture Agency)

Deadly and easy to use

Harpoon cannons have been used in the whaling industry since the late 19th century.

It is mounted on the bow of a ship and can be easily aimed with a wide field of view at the target.

Some harpoons are solid steel, while others are fitted with a grenade that explodes on impact.

The whale is killed almost instantaneously.

Critics say the harpoon gun makes it harder to enforce a ban on killing, as it can fire from a considerable distance away.

Only Norway, Iceland and Japan oppose the moratorium on commercial whaling.