The Taiji Dolphin Hunt: A Global Outcry with Sea Shepherd
The Superpod Capture: A Turning Point
On January 17, 2014, Taiji dolphin hunters’ greed led to worldwide anger when they herded five separate bottlenose dolphin groups into the cove. This formed the biggest pod seen by Cove Guardians since Sea Shepherd’s Operation Infinite Patience began in 2010. The hunters quickly realized they had a valuable catch. Bottlenose dolphins are already prized in the captive trade, but this “superpod” also included a rare albino calf, thought to be worth about $500,000 in captivity.
Part One of Dolphin Hunt: The Heartbreaking Separation recording by Sea Shepherd
This albino calf, named “Shoujo” by Sea Shepherd founder Captain Paul Watson. For it was the first taken from its family for captivity. The calf touched hearts globally. Especially as Cove Guardians showed hunters and trainers forcibly separating it from its mother.
The Brutal Selection Process
Because the ordeal wasn’t over for these scared. For tired dolphins after being driven into the cove. Captive selection went on for days, with the stressed dolphins held for four nights without food or shelter. Each day, Cove Guardians live streamed, exposing Taiji’s violent captive selection process.
A Cruel Spectacle
Hunters and trainers wrestled dolphins from their families to pick the “prettiest” ones for captivity – those without marks or “flaws.” Some dolphins bled and got hurt during selection, a process as brutal as the killing itself.
The Tragic Outcome
On January 21, after days of selection, the remaining dolphins were killed. When the cove waters calmed, 52 dolphins had been captured (one died), about 41 had been killed, and 130-140 exhausted, traumatized dolphins were sent back to sea.
Global Outrage and Media Attention
Though awful, these events sparked unprecedented media attention and opposition to Taiji’s dolphin hunt. Sea Shepherd drew global eyes to Taiji through smart media work, a coordinated social media campaign involving Sea Shepherd networks worldwide, and daily updates based on reports from Cove Guardians working non-stop in Taiji.
The Power of Images
A powerful photo taken by Cove Guardians, thereby it showing dolphins being carelessly run over by hunters in boats. It was also shared by the Associated Press and used by media worldwide.
The Role of Social Media
The live stream of the Dolphin hunt from Sea Shepherd’s coverage drew a steady, large global audience. Throughout the five-day, four-night ordeal, at least 100,000 viewers stayed tuned. Social media was most certainly key in spreading Sea Shepherd’s live updates to a vast audience.
Unprecedented Engagement
People worldwide followed the news on Sea Shepherd’s social platforms, leading to a surge in engagement. The Cove Guardians Facebook page saw 2.5 million views, while Sea Shepherd USA’s page neared one million.
Political Response
As news of the pod’s capture spread, Sea Shepherd and its supporters began tweeting to Caroline Kennedy. Caroline is the U.S. Ambassador to Japan. For they were urging her to watch the Taiji live stream.
Diplomatic Pressure
Ambassador Kennedy’s direct tweet made headlines and also prompted other political figures to speak out. Especially against Japan’s cruel dolphin capture and slaughter. These included Domenico Giorgi, Italian Ambassador to Japan; Tim Hitchens, British Ambassador to Japan; and also Greg Hunt, Australian Minister for the Environment.
The Ongoing Fight
Sea Shepherd hopes Ambassador Kennedy, who brought global attention to the cove last year, will again help the dolphins still dying in those bloody waters by asking Japan to permanently stop the slaughter. While the nightmare has ended for last year’s captured bottlenose dolphins, except those now in captivity, the hunt continues along Taiji’s deadly coast.
Conclusion: A Call for Action
The Taiji dolphin hunt remains a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for marine mammal protection. As global awareness grows, so does the pressure on Japan to end this practice. The fight continues, fueled by the tireless efforts of organizations like Sea Shepherd and the growing chorus of international voices demanding change.
Images Taken by Sea Shepherd’s Cove Guardians.
For six months of each year — from September until March — entire family units, or pods, of dolphins and small whales at a time are driven into Taiji’s killing cove. Banger poles are hit against the side of the hunting boats to create a “wall of sound,” disorienting the sound-sensitive marine mammals and making it nearly impossible for them to escape the drive. Once netted into the cove, their fate is sealed: the dolphins and whales face brutal slaughter or a lifetime in captivity. In a drive just as stressful as the drive into the cove, remaining pod members — usually juveniles and infants — are driven back out to sea with little hope of survival on their own.
Finally and for more information on Operation Infinite Patience. So please visit: http://www.seashepherd.org/cove-guardians/.
To view Sea Shepherd’s livestream from Taiji, please visit: http://www.seashepherd.org/cove-guardians/livestream.html/.
Livestream footage will be archived and available here: http://www.seashepherd.org/cove-guardians/livestream-archive.html.
Source: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society USA
Founded by Captain Paul Watson, http://www.seashepherd.org
