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Japanese Cove Town to Release Dolphins

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 10, 2009 3:55 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The Japanese town that triggered a furor after a documentary highlighted its dolphin slaughter is granting a reprieve to 100 of the animals, reports AP. Some 50 dolphins will be sold to aquariums, and the remainder of the 100 trapped for yesterday's first hunt of the season will be released back to the sea. The town of Taiji made the decision in response to anger triggered by the film, The Cove, which showed bay waters turned red with blood in the town slaughter.

"I am elated," said Ric O'Barry, the one-time trainer of American TV celebrity dolphin Flipper and director of The Cove. "When I heard that, I did a backflip off the bed." It's not yet clear if Taiji will permanently end the dolphin slaughter. Some 50 pilot whales were killed yesterday in the town hunt.

Marine Mammal specialist Ric O'Barry looks at dolphins in a tank at Whales Museum during his tour to Taiji, western Japan, earlier this month.
Marine Mammal specialist Ric O'Barry looks at dolphins in a tank at Whales Museum during his tour to Taiji, western Japan, earlier this month.   (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
Trainers feed dolphins in an enclosure in the early morning in Taiji, western Japan, early this month.
Trainers feed dolphins in an enclosure in the early morning in Taiji, western Japan, early this month.   (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
A fishing boat sails off Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. The Japanese town chronicled in The Cove for its dolphin hunt freed much of the season's first catch, following a global outcry.
A fishing boat sails off Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. The Japanese town chronicled in "The Cove" for its dolphin hunt freed much of the season's first catch, following a global outcry.   (AP Photo/Minami Kishu Shimbun via Kyodo News)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Spudsy
Sep 10, 2009 7:56 AM CDT
Sadly, the population growth in Asian countries demands that they rape the oceans. People have to eat. Of course, we could stop burning corn in our Hummers and help out, but then we might have to ride the train with other stinky dirty people.
Snarfeh
Sep 10, 2009 6:32 AM CDT
Their brutality is more honest than factory farming. They do what they do and that's it. Whereas, here, things are white washed so the average American can turn a blind eye to it.
schmidtkoff
Sep 10, 2009 3:22 AM CDT
thank god the japanese have come somewhat back to their senses. unfortunately mr. harrington chickens are mass produced. dolphins and whales are slaughtered mercilessly for pseudo scientific experiments. they cannot be mass produced. and to decimate the population in order to feed the palates of the asian population criminal. wait and see what happens when the food chain in the oceans is broken.

 
Japan • dolphin • Ric O'Barry • dolphins • Flipper • Taiji • The Cove

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