Russian animal rights group protests Japanese dolphin slaughter

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http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=11404033

 

Oct 8 2005 2:27PM

Russian animal rights group protests Japanese dolphin

slaughter

 

MOSCOW. Oct 8 (Interfax) - The Russian animal rights

protection center Vita has urged the Japanese

government to impose a ban on the catching and

slaughtering of dolphins.

 

In connection with Japan Dolphin Day, internationally

observed on October 8, Vita sent an appeal to Japanese

Ambassador in Russia Issei Nomura, calling on Japan

" to stop one of the major dolphin slaughtering

campaigns in the world, conducted annually near the

Japanese coast. "

 

The dolphin hunt near the Japanese coast is " carried

out in the cruelest way, " the appeal says.

 

Japanese fishermen approach the migration routes of

dolphins and other whales on small boats, Vita said in

the document. " Once dolphins find themselves near the

boats, fishermen surround them, put metal pipes

underwater and start banging. Dolphins, hypersensitive

to sound, lose their orientation, panic and try to

escape the noise. They are so directed into a shallow

bay. Then fishermen wound several dolphins with a

knife or a spear, knowing that dolphins never abandon

their wounded fellows. After that, the entire shoal is

locked in the bay with nets, and they are killed with

spears and knives the next morning, " the document

says.

 

" The dead and dying dolphins are thrown into the boats

and later cut into pieces for sale at Japanese

supermarkets and restaurants, often under the guise of

meat of larger whales, which is more expensive. A

number of dolphins are left alive for sale to

dolphinariums in different parts of the world, " the

appeal reads. va la