WATCH: Baby whale cut into pieces despite still being alive when it washed ashore

A WHALE calf was found washed up and – despite allegedly still being alive – was promptly chopped up by locals.

In the gruesome footage, a group of men carve the youngster into pieces while enjoying a laugh with each other.

One of the men even casually stands on the whale while chatting on his phone.

The baby whale was found off the coast of Russia in the town of Bolshoy Kamen.

Russians are known for eating whale blubber but still lie behind countries such as Japan, Canada and the US in the number of whales that are caught and consumed  each year.

Japan is the biggest hunter of whales with over 1000 killed and sold as whale meat each year.

CHOPPED: The poor whale calf was still alive before locals started getting to work

Photos of the whale's carcass have gone viral online.

Netizen Roman said: "It was still breathing, so it could have been saved. Those who defend people who cut it to pieces are inhuman bastards."

A lamenting Russian user wrote: "The rest of the world is dedicated to saving whales and all we do is eat them."

However, there is an argument that most cultures feast on animals such as cows, pigs and sheep – some of which are sacred in other countries.

It's not just whale eating that's lamented, most of the western world has been in uproar overChina's annual dog eating festival.