The relationships human societies have with animals aren’t fixed, but vary according to era, culture, territory and customs.
Whaling, which has been practised since the ninth century and was industrialized in the 19th century, offers a good example. Long considered normal, commercial whaling has been banned since a 1986 global moratorium, and, although three countries still practise it, is now widely regarded as ethically unacceptable.
This shift — from exploitation to protection — shows how fluid our relationship with animals is, and how much it can change.
