Tag Archives: dolphin drive

Risso’s Dolphins are First Victims of Taiji “The Cove” Dolphin Hunting Season 2014

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By Kirsten Massebeau

The string of “blue cove days” ended September 16, 2014 as an innocent pod of Risso’s dolphins was driven into a remote cove in a state park in Taiji, Japan where a handful of men captured, and then slaughtered the entire pod. The yearly capture and slaughter of dolphins was made famous in 2009 when the documentary, “The Cove” was released revealing the inhumane and cruel treatment of these highly intelligent beings whose lives are destroyed for aquariums, food, and fertilizer. The hunt that takes place each year from September until March is brutal, grueling, cruel and deadly for the dolphin victims that attempt to travel past Taiji, Japan located in the Wakayama, Prefecture.

For several hours the  pod of Risso’s dolphins fought bravely for their lives but sadly they were no match for the hunters with their high powered Mercury engines and banger poles. The family was driven into the cove, pushed under the killing tarps, and then were quickly transported to the butchers house, the entrance known as “Death’s Door”.

While the Taiji Whale Museum and ISANA dolphin hunters union continue to scream culture and “tradition” this is absolutely untrue. The dolphin drive began in 1969 as pest control and then only a few years later aquariums began buying dolphins from dolphin drive fisheries. In the early 1980’s SeaWorld and other marine parks began to underwrite the drive fisheries began to underwrite dolphin drive fisheries for display. 

 Ric O’Barry states that the “World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has the power to end this if they would stop these captures”. They must immediately expel the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) responsible for blood dolphin trafficking. “They get as much as $154,000 dollars for one dolphin for an aquarium or marine park”. In a recent CNBC interview Ric O’Barry star of The Cove, and head of The Ric O’Barry Dolphin Project points out a graph that shows the slaughtered dolphin numbers dropping ( the meat is toxic only eaten by a few!) while captures for aquariums are increasing. Ric’s wish is to bring Carolyn Kennedy who spoke out against dolphin drive fisheries last season to come to “The Cove” and see first hand the terrible dolphin death and suffering that goes in Taiji, Japan and their strong ties to the captive industry.

Taiji Dolphin Predators Cannot Hide The Truth

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By Kirsten Massebeau

Sea Shepherd Cove Guardians Capture Risso’s Dolphin Drive November 19, 2012

Another pod of Risso’s dolphins approximately 15-20 found themselves surrounded and then driven to their death on October 19, 2012. Taiji, Japan  is a place where compassion towards dolphins is not common place.

Sea Shepherds Cove Guardians Capture an image of a tail roped dolphin being dragged to slaughter November 19, 2012

The dolphin hunters of Taiji have been devoid of feeling as evidenced by their consistently cruel and inhumane treatment of dolphins since they began the dolphin drive as we know it today that began in 1969 (source)

A Risso’s dolphins suffocates trapped in a net as hunters stand by doing nothing. Photo by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Cove Guardians November 19,2012

The hunters are a small group of men that have gone to great lengths for many years to hide the horrible death and suffering they have wrought upon dolphins. Fortunately the dolphin/ocean activists will always expose the truth. In making The academy award-winning documentary film “The Cove” Ric O’Barry, Louis Psihoyos and their team used a James Bond style approach that allowed the film-makers to capture the ugly truth about what was happening to dolphins in Taiji, Japan. The world was shocked and the film gave way to an organized presence of volunteers each year during the drive season. From September to March,  Sea Shepherds Cove Guardians, Save Japan Dolphins Cove Monitors, independent volunteers and other organizations, are the watchful eyes for the dolphins recording and reporting on the terrible dolphin suffering.

Despite several blue tarps SSCS Cove Guardian Melissa Seghal successfully takes footage of the Taiji dolphin butchers at work November 19,2012

Know matter how hard the dolphin hunters, and butchers have tried to hide this inhumane slaughter and capture, they cannot be careful enough. The truth will always be revealed.

Two dolphin butchers failed to cover the Risso’s intestines ripped from their innocent bodies. Photo captured Livestream SSCS Cove Guardians November, 19, 2012

The dolphin hunters are determined to continue the dolphin hunt and dolphin suffering indefinitely. At the same time dolphin activists whose ranks are growing exponentially everyday are equally as determined to end the dolphins suffering in Taiji forever. Each and every time the hunters pursue, and harm dolphins activists will be recording and broadcasting the truth about the inhumane treatment of dolphins in Taiji, Japan.