Every year she causes outrage: Japanese hunt for dolphins. But it is not (any longer) only the meat of the animals that one is after. The main quest is for living supplies for dolphinariums around the world. Shortly before the start of the season, the police took positions against opponents of the battle. As in previous years, officials must prevent illegal actions by whaling opponents.
In the whale town of Taiji, a police station will be temporarily set up for dolphin hunting from September 1 to March next year.
Taiji, in Wakayama province, is the setting for the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, which is infamous for its annual massacre. Meanwhile, animal rights activists complain about a rapidly increasing trade in live dolphins.
Young, healthy animals are selected
Once local fishermen spot dolphins off the coast of Taiji, they herd the marine mammals into a bay. To do this, the fishermen paralyze the dolphins’ sense of direction by hammering metal rods held in the sea. Young, healthy animals – according to animal rights activists females are preferred – are selected on behalf of dolphinariums at home and abroad, the other animals are slaughtered in a neighboring bay.
Trained Dolphins for $50,000
“In Japan, dolphin hunting is no longer financed by the sale of dolphin meat, but by the unscrupulous demand for dolphinariums,” said Sandra Altherr of the animal and species conservation organization Pro Wildlife on the occasion of this year’s hunting season. According to the marine expert, $50,000 or more would be paid for a trained dolphin.
Meat often contaminated with toxins
While the number of dolphins and small whales killed in Japan has fallen sharply due to the low demand for the meat, which is often contaminated with toxins, exports with live animals are growing. Japan sells most dolphins to neighboring China. More than 1,000 dolphins were sold there between 2000 and 2020 alone. Other customers were Russia, Thailand, Mexico, Vietnam, Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia, where dolphinariums are still being built or the old stock is replenished with wild-caught dolphins due to lack of offspring.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
