In heartbreaking video captured by an American conservationist, a dolphin is seen throwing itself onto the shore in an attempt to escape hunters.
Shot by Ric O’Barry, founder of The Dolphin Project, during Japan’s mass dolphin slaughter, the footage shows the animals trying to escape from boats of fishermen.
O’Barry was featured in the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Cove,’ which captures and questions Japan’s controversial six-month dolphin hunt. The practice involves herding migrating dolphins from deeper waters into a cove, where they are netted and killed with spears and knives.
O’Barry was arrested last week near the town of Taiji on the eve of the dolphin hunt for allegedly not carrying a passport. He was released the next day, allowing him to capture this footage.
In the video, Risso dolphins are seen tangled in netting, while others try to escape and end up in the shallow water. One panicked dolphin hurls itself at O’Barry’s feet, who insists he will be “arrested immediately” if he intervenes to help.
“This is anguish,” he says, while shooting the struggling dolphin. “[He’s] panic-stricken on the rocks, and I am heartbroken that I can’t get in the water and help him away from … he’s tearing his skin up. This is awful.”
A boat of fishermen proceed to pull the animal back into the water. It eventually sinks to the bottom of the ocean floor.
“It breaks my heart,” he says. “This is so stressful. This is so difficult to witness. I almost got in the water. I almost got in the water and maybe I should have.”
Commercial whaling is banned in Japan, though the country claims the practice is for scientific research.
The Taiji fishermen have just restarted the cruel dolphin
slaughter.
12 Risso’s dolphins -- panicked and ripped
from their families -- were herded into the Cove, stabbed, and butchered. The
mercury-laden dolphin meat will be sold to markets and may even be fed to
unsuspecting schoolchildren. More dolphins will be snatched and sold into
desperate lives in captive aquarium tanks.
The Japanese Government authorized
the killing of 1873 dolphins this season, perpetuating the barbaric slaughter.
But we must stand up and respond. I hope
I can count on your help. DONATE
HERE
Outside media pressure on the cruel
slaughter in Taiji is important. But it is not enough.
We must build in-country Japanese
opposition to stop the sale of toxic dolphin meat, stop patronizing the
aquariums buying dolphins from Taiji, and build public awareness in Japan --
especially among young people -- that the killing of dolphins must
end.
There are signs of hope. After a 10-year campaign, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) will finally suspend any Japanese aquarium buying dolphins from Taiji.
We’re blacklisting any aquariums that quit the Association to get around the ban, starting with the notorious Taiji Whale Museum. Along with our colleagues at Australia for Dolphins, we are in court against them right now for blocking entrance to westerners to check the status of Taiji dolphins.
We must expand outreach within Japan with a message to stop patronizing any zoos and aquariums on the blacklist.
When aquarium dolphin purchases from Taiji dry up, the Taiji dolphin drive fishery will collapse.
Help us work with our Japanese colleagues to stop false labeling, sale, and consumption of mercury poisoned dolphin meat. Some of this meat has mercury levels 30 times higher than the maximum set by the Japanese Health Ministry.
When markets stop selling dolphin meat and people stop buying it, the Taiji dolphin slaughter will cease FOREVER. DONATE HERE
We must reach more people in Japan with the message that it is time for safe food products and safe oceans with protection for all dolphins.
False labeling and sale of dolphin meat must be stopped.
Wild dolphin and whale watching is sustainable and profitable rather than cruel and shameful.
We’re currently sponsoring a Japanese organization bringing groups of kids living near the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster to week-long programs on Mikura Island where they learn about nature and swim with wild, protected dolphins. It is making a difference. Check out details below.
We can stop the Taiji slaughters with your help. We appreciate your support and will not quit until dolphins and whales get the protection they need and deserve.
Which Future for Dolphins in Japan?
Above: The gruesome dolphin slaughter at the Taiji Cove
Above: Protected dolphins of Mikura Island, Japan, where we sponsor a program
Take Action:
Please sign our petition to Taiji Mayor Kazutaka Sangen and Prime Minister Abe for a halt to the Taiji slaughter and the capture of dolphins for the live trade to aquariums.
Our work with Fukushima Kids Camp for Dolphins
Details on Mercury in Japanese Dolphin Meat
News coverage of Taiji in Newsweek and The Japan Times
Song Produced by Pat Aeby (Krokus, etc.).
All Video Footage for all Sunset Music videos was done using the GoPro Hero!
Thanks especially to the tireless and what is endless work of the people that are trying to stop all Dolphin Hunting and Capturing in every way, and thanks to any participants who please, if you want to be credited in any way, contact us now at artistdevelopment@sunsetrecordings.com. We will do it that minute.
Also, this video is monetized in some way (ad shares, amounts of plays, amounts of views, etc.) and therefore any and I mean 100% of all revenues made from it, will go to the Oceanic Preservation Society (makers of the COVE). As a matter of fact, we have set up an automated monthly payment which I am matching BTW, every month. Thanks for the help and for your participation in stopping all wildlife crime. Your tax-deductible donation helps the Oceanic Preservation Society often receives requests from supporters of our organization inquiring about their ability to raise money for OPS. Past request have included charitable fundraising programs by students, individuals doing charity walks or hikes, or individuals who were moved by our work and who just want to help us raise funds. Such independent fundraising activities are possible and greatly appreciated. The following is background information on OPS and how that independent fundraising should be conducted:
• Oceanic Preservation Society is a registered 501(c)(3) Public Charity, Tax ID 38-3891081
• Donations from individuals in the form of cash or check can be tax deductible to the donor as a charitable income tax deduction;
• Donations in the form of checks is preferable to donations in cash;
• If a fundraiser is soliciting funding, then any checks should be written to Oceanic Preservation Society, rather than to the fundraiser;
• The fundraiser should provide OPS with the name and address of each donor so that OPS can provide each donor with a letter acknowledging the donation for income tax purposes; and
• The fundraiser should indicate that he or she is merely selecting OPS as his or her charity of choice for his or her fundraising activities and that the fundraiser is not officially associated with OPS.
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