Category Archives: Beluga Whale

#QatarDeceit A Tweetstorm: Qatar Dolphin Discovery & Research: STOP SPONSORING THE TAIJI DOLPHIN SLAUGHTER

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By Kirsten Massebeau

On September 1, 2013 the terrible dolphin drive made famous by the academy award-winning documentary “The Cove” began yet another season capturing and killing dolphins and small whales in Taiji, Japan. The Taiji Fisherman’s Union have made and agreement with the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) not to slaughter bottlenose dolphins during the month of September. Buyers of the blood dolphins can then claim no blood was spilled for their collection. The WAZA agreement does not extend to other species. Between September 1st and September 17th 181 dolphins have been driven into the cove. of these 18 were captured (bottlenose), 31 slaughtered (pilot whales and 1 bottlenose dolphin). A total of 121 were released. Once September passes the WAZA agreement no longer applies.  Bottlenose dolphins unwanted for aquariums and marine park display will again be openly slaughtered.

On September 18, 2013 following several bloody days at the cove for pilot whales, and a constant transfer of young bottlenose dolphins for aquariums Op-Ed blogger Elizabeth Batt published a shocking article:“Op-Ed: Is NatGeo sponsoring company that purchases Taiji dolphins? Qatar Dolphin Discovery Research run by,  NEMO or Nerum LLC. They  announced on their Facebook page, “Good morning people, we are back with some exciting news, Qatar Dolphin Discovery Research is a proud to be sponsored by National Geographic!

After a Tweetstorm had been planned National Geographic came forward and made it clear that Qatar Dolphin Discovery & Research had used the National Geographic logo without their permission and that they were not Dolphin Discovery & Research sponsors.

Qatar Dolphin Discovery has blocked U. S. Access to Their Facebook Page at this time

Qatar Dolphin Discovery & Research Screen Shot Facebook U.S. Access now blocked.

Since the activities and involvement of Qatar Dolphin Discovery & Research have come to light the company has blocked U.S. access to their Facebook page. They continue to rant that they are saving the purchased dolphins from slaughter when in fact the capture and sale of bottlenose dolphins and a limited number of other species to the captive industry keeps the drive alive.“The drive hunters cannot sustain their business on dolphin meat sales – they must capture and sell dolphins to keep it thriving.  Captivity kills, and Taiji is proof of that premise”.

“Documentation shows that “Given that Nero/Nerum LLC has purchased dolphins captured from the inhumane Japanese dolphin drives”.

This CITES export permit dated Sep. 30, 2010, clearly shows that Nerum imported five male and one female Pacific bottlenose dolphins from Dolphin Base in Taiji, Japan.

Even more recently, just last May in fact, Nerum acquired another 20 Pacific Bottlenose from the same facility, as this CITES permit shows. The company accepted delivery of a further 16 female and 4 male Pacific bottlenose dolphins”(source).

Qatar Dolphin Discovery Research US Access now Blocked. Screen print taken in the UK.

“Training, training, getting ready and getting closer”. Qatar Dolphin Discovery Research US Access now Blocked. Screen print taken in the UK.

TWEETSTORM on September 25th to tell Qatar Dolphin Discovery & Researchwww.facebook.com/QatarDolphinDiscovery (link is not visible in USA) that dolphin slaughter is not acceptable and we will not stop until the slaughter and taking of dolphins into captivity stops!

TWEETSTORM TIME ANNOUNCER: ► http://bit.ly/14qyH50
COUNTDOWN TO TWEETSTORM: ► http://bit.ly/16eudlu

LIST OF PRE-MADE TWEETS will be available shortly before the tweetstorm.

Please support this important event by inviting your friends to join, many thanks !!

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What is a Tweetstorm? (translated in many languages on the bottom!)
www.globalfree.wordpress.com/2010/10/02/tweetstorms

 

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No Dolphinariums in Europe: June 28 Demo Gives Dolphins Hope for Freedom

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By Kirsten Massebeau

Demo Banner by Sasha Alazy

Demo Banner by Sasha Alazy

Demonstrators opposing dolphinariums and captive facilities in Europe are organized and ready to go! On June 28, 2013 they will gather in Brussels with a loud and clear message to Europe demanding closure of all captive facilities. According to the demonstrators captive facilities are in direct opposition to the law:

The European Council Directive 1999/22/EC on the keeping of wild animals in zoos requires that animals must be kept in conditions that meet their biological and conservation requirements. Yet in the case of cetaceans, it is impossible for these requirements to be met in captivity. Because no tanks, no lagoons as big as they can be, could ever replace the freedom of swimming in the immensity of the ocean (source).

Marineland Antibes

Marineland Antibes dolphin show

Today there are 34 captive facilities and 286 cetaceans in captivity in Europe. Those countries include:Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. “WDCS anti-captivity lead, Cathy Williamson states, these commercially driven, circus-style shows may seem like fun but the truth is much sadder”. Ric O’Barry of the Dolphin Project describes captivity as a life of silence and isolation: “Most captive dolphins are confined in minuscule tanks containing chemically treated artificial seawater. Dolphins in a tank are severely restricted in using their highly developed sonar, which is one of the most damaging aspects of captivity. It is much like forcing a person to live in a hall of mirrors for the rest of their life – their image always bouncing back with no clear direction in sight”(source).

25% of the cetacean population in captive facilities in Europe were obtained from a wild source meaning capture or strand while the captive born dolphins are being bred from small breeding pools. According to born free these facilities breeding pools are unsustainable which will force dolphinariums to purchase wild dolphins: “The captive population is unsustainable. Captures of wild dolphins for captivity still goes on in some parts of the world.

Bottlenose dolphins have last moments together before being dragged to slaughter. By SSCS C.G. 1.20.13

Bottlenose dolphins have last moments together before being dragged to slaughter.
By SSCS C.G. 1.20.13

The danger remains that if the number of dolphinaria in the EU remains the same or increases that attempts may be made by dolphinaria to import further wild-caught dolphins into the EU which contradicts EU law, too” (source)

Two long time dolphin advocates in Europe Yvon Godfroid and Annelies Mullens could see the unsustainable situation, and the terrible dolphin suffering taking place in captive facilities throughout Europe and worldwide. Independent of all groups they decided to organize a demonstration. They realize that the hunt in Taiji and other places will never end as long as dolphinaria exists. They realize that as long as dolphinaria exists the dolphin hunt will go on.

As dolphins don’t thrive good in captivity the dolphinaria will need “fresh” genes so the dolphin hunt will go on. They have the principle that before throwing stones at other countries you have to clean up your own backyard first. So in order to stop the dolphin hunt they will fight the dolphinaria in Europe (source)

European Demonstration Brussels

European Demonstration Brussels

How can you help the dolphins and get involved in the Belgium Demonstration? Join Ric O’Barry and attend the event in Brussels! You can sign up on Facebook: Demonstration against Captivity of Cetaceans in Europe! If you are not in Europe and cannot attend the even you can still be a voice for the dolphins and support the demonstration by making a donation no matter how small or large to the Europe Must Ban Dolphinaria Demo. You can find more information on the actual demo at: For a Delphinarium-free Europe!!! You can also sign the petition All dolphinaria must be closed in Europe!!!

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Dolphin freedom is so worth fighting for. Together we can make a difference.

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