WSPA protests Japan's dolphin slaughter
Oct 22, 2009
© WSPA
Animal welfare and environmental organisations including WSPA, Campaign Whale, Environmental Investigation Agency and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society laid red flowers at a vigil yesterday outside the Japanese Embassy in London. The peaceful protest was to mark Japan’s drive hunts which see 20,000 dolphins, porpoises and small whales killed each year in Japan’s coastal waters.
The demonstration coincides with the UK release this Friday 23rd October of the internationally acclaimed docu-drama The Cove.
The Cove
The Cove focuses on Taiji, where around 2,000 dolphins each year are herded into a small cove and brutally slaughtered for their meat, while others in their pod are captured alive for sale to dolphinaria around the world.
Starring former ‘Flipper’ trainer Ric O’Barry, the film has already received widespread acclaim in the United States and at film festivals around the world and is set to create an international tidal wave of opposition to these cruel hunts.
However, the film shows only the tip of the iceberg. As well as targeting dolphins each year, Japan harpoons around 16,000 Dall’s porpoises in the largest whale slaughter in the world. The hunts continue although demand for the products is in decline. The meat is sold for human consumption, despite the fact that it often contains dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals.
Ugly truth behind the captive dolphin’s smile
© WSPA
The Cove exposes the link between the dolphin hunts and the dolphinarium industry - a few select dolphins are captured alive from Taiji’s bloody waters to be sold to dolphinaria both in Japan and overseas.
Aquariums and ‘swim with dolphins’ parks pay as much as £100,000 per animal and the demand for live dolphins is the primary economic incentive for the hunts to continue.
Claire Bass, WSPA Programme Manager said: ‘The Cove shows the tragic truth behind the captive dolphins’ smile – they are literally dying to entertain us. We’re urging people who love dolphins, not to love them to death by paying to visit them in captivity.’
WSPA, alongside fellow members of the European Alliance to End Dolphins in Captivity (EAEDC), are calling on the European Union to ban the construction of new dolphinariums and ban the trade of whales and dolphins into the EU.
Take action against dolphin cruelty
If you want to take action against dolphin cruelty, there are a few things you can do to help us and other charities working on this issue.
Ask Gordon Brown to express the concern of British people to the new Japanese Prime Minister - join in and sign the petition
We want to stop any more dolphinariums being built and end the trade of wild whales and dolphins in Europe. Sign WSPA’s petition to ban captive dolphin facilities in the EU
Take your friends to see ‘The Cove’, opening at selected cinemas across the UK on 23rd October. Please check your local cinema listings and ask them to show this important film. Find out more about the movie or search for your nearest cinema screening the film
Learn more about why WSPA is against the keeping of dolphins in captivity>>
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