Save Japan’s Dolphins

Every year, thousands of dolphins are killed in Japan for their annual dolphin hunt which will start on September and will last for six months. Some call this event as the Taiji dolphin drive hunt since most of the dolphins are captured and killed in Taiji.

Photo from Yishu

There are two main reasons why they are hunting dolphins. The first reason is for eating dolphin meat, which according to studies are harmful to humans. Dolphin meat have high levels of mercury and becomes poisonous to humans once they eat lots of it. The second reason is to sell these dolphins to aquariums and theme parks. Unfortunately, many residents in Taiji, including the mayor, have allowed this kind of business for their economy.

According to Wikipedia, the hunting is done by a select group of fishermen and “when a pod of dolphins has been spotted, fishing boats move into position.” They usually surround them and herd the pod towards land. Once that is done, they kill the dolphins one by one, usually by driving a metal pin into the dolphin’s neck.

Ric O’Barry, founder of the The Dolphin Project and star of the award-wining documentary The Cove has been active in his campaign to save Japan’s dolphins. Other organizations have followed O’Barry in his campaign. It is time we do our part in saving the dolphins’ lives.

You can visit www.dolphinproject.net, www.savejapandolphins.org or any organization and sign a petition against dolphin killings. These creatures have lives. These creatures are one of the gentlest animals in the planet and they don’t deserve to be treated like this. Let us join together and stop this madness. Act now.

Maria Celeste Abellana
iSTORYA League of Writers

*Celeste is a content writer. blogger. social media addict. learning social media marketing. loves music and coffee. future work-from-home mom. single parent to an awesome boy who is growing up too fast.