The annual dolphin slaughter at Taiji, a town with a population of some 3,500 in the beautiful Yoshino Kumano Kokuritsu Koen national park, follows a regular pattern.
First, hunter boats from the Taiji Isana Union (numbering at most 13 skiffs, with two crewmen each) head out to sea and surround pods of dolphins or pilot whales (which are actually large dolphins). Then they drive them into a “capture cove” by banging on long metal bell-ended poles placed in the water to disrupt the dolphins’ sonar, causing them to become completely disorientated and panic.
After these animals have spent a night supposedly relaxing in the netted-off capture cove (in an attempt by the whalers to make their meat more tender), they are driven to the neighboring “killing cove.” There, behind huge blue tarps strung across the cove to keep prying eyes away — in much the same way that Japanese police cordon off crime scenes — the dolphins meet their gruesome predawn end.
It is a gory spectacle that Taiji has long striven to keep anyone from seeing — and one that is crucially fueled by the lucrative, worldwide dolphin captivity and display industry. Aquarium operators, some of whom have claimed to be saving dolphins’ lives by selecting a few as performers, pay up to $150,000 per animal.
The brutal selection process, though — as shown in the OPS footage — causes many of these highly intelligent marine mammals to die of shock or drown.
Meanwhile, cruelty apart, the government-sanctioned slaughter is widely condemned by Japanese scientists, activists and a few Taiji officials, who all cite the serious health issues related to consumption of the dolphins’ mercury-tainted meat.
Secret film reveals slaughter to the world
Covert operation finally exposes Taiji’s annual dolphin horror
The secret filming by members of the U.S. conservation group Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) — equipped with state-of-the-art technology and financed to the tune of $5 million by Netscape founder Jim Clark — is one of the most important ‘must see’ multi-award winning films ever made.
The story of how this film of the barbaric killing and subsequent butchering of dolphins was made — together with the resulting sale of their meat that massively exceeds Japanese and international limits for mercury content — is told here, exclusively, for the first time anywhere in print.
All our Governments and the IWC have proven to us all time and time again that they are never going to Save the Whales and the Dolphins from these mass slaughters and mass injustices, It Is Up To You & Me.. It Is Up To Us Individuals To Speak Up and Be The Voice For Our Defenceless, Highly Intelligent Marine Mammal Friends.
Just because our governments dont have the balls or compassion to put animal welfare first, doesnt mean you dont either!
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE… Here’s more links to help and action:
TakePart.com/TheCove
OPSOCIETY
SaveJapanDolphins.org
seashepherd.org/australia
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I just watched The Cove and I thought I was either going to have a breakdown, heart attack or faint from the horror of seeing the precious dolphins being slaughtered. This is outrageous, I can’t believe that the powerful first wold leaders cannot put a stop to the dolphin and whale slaughter that the Japanese are doing. I am angry with all the nations that are supporting Japan’s disgusting whaling. As a Polynesian, I am ashamed of my Micronesian neighbor the Marshall Islands for giving Japan their vote. And, I’m also ashamed my Melanesian neighbor the Solomon Islands who are trapping, trading and killing dolphins. Shame on you. Hopefully, some Japanese trawler will come along and drag the Marshall Island off to the Japanese water because your nation don’t belong in our side of the Pacific Ocean! Too bad some of these small broke nations don’t realise that by accepting aid/bribes, – they’re sleeping with the devil.
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Thank you for blogging. I appreciate your efforts.
now i know why GOD let them experience the disasters the’re having now..because the also did so much evil deeds with the dolphins and other things…tsk..good for them..
[...] 609 If they can talk, I am sure they will say – thanks for the free fish but really get this crap out of my back yard, don't like oil, don't like nets, not as much food around and my friends keep disapearing about 7000k's from here near a island. The water is warm, really really warm and if they do not get sick they disapear. More japanese shame – Taiji Annual Dolphin Slaughter Horror | kangaboy.net [...]
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