On October 19, Dolphin Project Cove Monitors witnessed and reported an unusually long drive of Risso’s dolphins,
resulting in the deaths of approximately 12-15 animals. Despite their
courageous and heartbreaking fight, the hunters were able to overpower
the exhausted dolphins, pushing them into the cove where they were later
killed. Presumably, this “kill number” was recorded, adding to the
quotas previously established by the Taiji Fisherman’s Union for the
2015/2016 drive season.
That’s the “spin” Taiji wants the rest of the world to believe. But it’s a lie.
With the carcass of a juvenile Risso’s dolphin washing ashore,
presumably after the drive of a few days ago, it’s obvious these numbers
are wrong. DEAD wrong.
At the time of writing, the dolphin’s broken body still lies on the beach, between the Taiji lighthouse (visible in the movie, “The Cove,”) and the vantage point close to the Taiji High School. Says senior Cove Monitor Hans Peter Roth, “The sight of this dead Risso’s dolphin, in a progressing state of decay was shocking. It’s death is undoubtedly linked to the drive hunt from last Monday, when a pod of Risso’s was killed in the infamous cove of Taiji.”
Out at sea where there are no witnesses, dolphins die as a result of stress, exhaustion or injuries sustained during the hunt. Dolphins are run over by boats. They get hit by propellers or other moving parts. They drown. In other words, it’s a gruesome and brutal process, with no records kept of these “incidental” deaths.
Says O’Barry, “When I first started going to Taiji in 2003, fishermen
would openly kill dolphins on the beach. Then they started driving them
into the secret cove, to kill the animals out of sight. Tarps were
later employed, and now, a wall has been built. The secrecy of their
actions is increasing, due to world condemnation.”
Just last week, approximately 800 people aired their grievances outside the Japanese embassy in London for the dolphins killed in the drive hunts of Japan. During the demo, which was covered by international media, the Japanese embassy chose to remove its flag from its own building. This has never happened before – a likely sign of progress. With their circle of support shrinking, and with more blue cove days during this season than red, the tide seems to be turning in our favor.
Now more than ever, we need to be diligent and keep doing what we’re doing. With Dolphin Project Cove Monitors on the ground throughout the entire killing season, the campaign is expensive, time consuming and energy intensive. Please consider supporting our work, with a monthly donation, shopping our store for cool gear or even volunteering to become part of our team in Taiji. Our donation page offers other opportunities for giving. Thank you.
That’s the “spin” Taiji wants the rest of the world to believe. But it’s a lie.
The drive itself is sheer brutality, unlike anything I’ve ever seen.” ~ Ric O’Barry
2015/2016 Taiji Dolphin Quota
At the time of writing, the dolphin’s broken body still lies on the beach, between the Taiji lighthouse (visible in the movie, “The Cove,”) and the vantage point close to the Taiji High School. Says senior Cove Monitor Hans Peter Roth, “The sight of this dead Risso’s dolphin, in a progressing state of decay was shocking. It’s death is undoubtedly linked to the drive hunt from last Monday, when a pod of Risso’s was killed in the infamous cove of Taiji.”
Out at sea where there are no witnesses, dolphins die as a result of stress, exhaustion or injuries sustained during the hunt. Dolphins are run over by boats. They get hit by propellers or other moving parts. They drown. In other words, it’s a gruesome and brutal process, with no records kept of these “incidental” deaths.
Many animals, including the young, the old and the sick die even before the rest of the pod gets pushed into the cove. These “forgotten” ones are not accounted for, likely resulting in kill numbers being much higher than officially reported.” ~ Ric O’BarryIn spite of the Risso’s decay, there were telltale signs of such brutality. Hans Peter Roth and fellow Cove Monitor Marna Frida Olsen report seeing scratch marks around the dolphin’s rostrum, indicating the animal might have been entangled in nets. In such cases, they are not used for meat. Fishermen have been noted loading bodies into skiffs and dumping them at sea.
Risso’s dolphin lying dead on rocks in Taiji, Japan Photo credit: DolphinProject.com/Hans Peter Roth
Just last week, approximately 800 people aired their grievances outside the Japanese embassy in London for the dolphins killed in the drive hunts of Japan. During the demo, which was covered by international media, the Japanese embassy chose to remove its flag from its own building. This has never happened before – a likely sign of progress. With their circle of support shrinking, and with more blue cove days during this season than red, the tide seems to be turning in our favor.
Now more than ever, we need to be diligent and keep doing what we’re doing. With Dolphin Project Cove Monitors on the ground throughout the entire killing season, the campaign is expensive, time consuming and energy intensive. Please consider supporting our work, with a monthly donation, shopping our store for cool gear or even volunteering to become part of our team in Taiji. Our donation page offers other opportunities for giving. Thank you.
To the dead Risso’s: although you weren’t even recorded as a “number,” your life had meaning.
Young Risso’s dolphin found dead on the rocks in Taiji, Japan Photo credit: DolphinProject.com/Hans Peter Roth
Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the USA (Tax ID 47-1665067),
and donations are fully tax-deductible.
Don't be shellfish...
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