The dolphin drive hunts occur every year from September through April, and are a brutal reminder that we have a very long way to go towards securing a safe and humane future for all cetaceans. This devastatingly cruel practice involves the corralling of dolphins at sea and driving them into the confines of the cove in Taiji. Here they are slaughtered for meat or kept alive for sale to marine parks and aquaria across the globe. Yearly quotas for these drive hunts reach into the thousands, where small cetaceans of several species including bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins, spotted dolphins, false killer whales and short-finned pilot whales, are taken.
Since the release and worldwide distribution of the Academy award-winning documentary, The Cove, WDCS was hopeful that shining a light on these hunts would be the first step towards their end. Unfortunately, both the government and the fishermen remain steadfast in their commitment to kill these animals for their meat or as a means of pest control, or to sell them alive to marine parks.
We are hopeful that through continuing awareness and commitment to education and outreach in Japan that the tide will turn and this archaic practice will be abandoned.
October 7th Protest Details
When: 12:00-2:00pm
Where: Japanese Consulate at Federal Reserve Plaza, 600 Atlantic Avenue (by South Station). The exit from South Station is right by the Consulate.
What to bring: you do not need to bring anything but your energy, but signs are welcomed!
For those that cannot make the October 7th event, a protest will be held on October 14th in Washington, DC and organized by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and Humane Society of the US (HSUS)! Please see the details below for more information. Anyone can participate! Contact Mariko Terasaki at [email protected] for more information.
October 14th Protest Details
When: 12:00-1:00pm. Meet at 11:45am. March begins at 12:00pm. Rally ends at 1:00pm.
Where: Begin at the Dupont Circle fountain. The march will follow Massachusetts Avenue and will end in a rally in front of the Japanese Embassy.
What to bring: Signs and as many people as you can.
What to wear: Gray/black or bright red.
Click here to read the joint letter that will be delivered to the Japanese Consulate!