WSPA Alert-Slaughter of dolphins continues in Japan

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Slaughter of dolphins continues in Japan

 

4 Nov 03

 

WSPA's Ric O'Barry, former trainer of TV's " Flipper " ,

and Nik Hensey of the Sea Shepherd Conservation

Society are in Taiji, Japan, exposing the ongoing

cruel killing of wild dolphins and other marine

mammals. This hunt, called a drive fishery, is an

annual event in Japan and hundreds of dolphins are

brutally killed for their meat or are taken alive for

sale to swim-with dolphin programmes.

 

Sea Shepherd's crew were in the area when the hunt

officially began on October 6th and were present at

the scene of the slaughter of over 60 wild dolphins.

The urgent call went out for reinforcements -

especially after two Sea Shepherd crew members were

forced to leave Japan after repeated threats,

harassment and even an arrest. WSPA's O'Barry was on a

plane 24 hours later, four other marine mammal

advocacy organizations - Earth Island Institute,

Cetacean Society International, Born Free Foundation

and Blue Voice - stepped forward to donate funds in

support of this mission.

 

Since the hunts began, the blood of over 60 striped

dolphins and 13 whales (either pilot or melon-headed

whales) has coloured the seas. Both of these hunts

have been documented by Nik Hensey, whose team was

able to save the lives of at least 17 whales by

banging metal pipes together and chasing the animals

back out to sea.

 

Now, the harbour is home to a 24-hour vigil, where

WSPA and The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

continue to document the tragedy and put their lives

on the line in an attempt to prevent any more deaths.

The hunt is scheduled to continue at least through

November, so the protest has just begun.

 

Unfortunately, this hunt is legal according to

Japanese law. WSPA is lobbying to strenghten Japanese

legislation on animal welfare.

 

To send your mail, go below and click " !Take Action "

 

http://www.wspa-international.org/site/index.php?page=878#

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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