The Cove

 "The Cove" is a documentary by the Oceanic Preservation Society that exposes the slaughter of more than 20,000 dophins off the coast of Taiji, Japan every single year. The majority of the world, including most of Japan, is not even aware this is happening, despite the fisherman's claims that this is just a way of life for Japanese citizens. The focus of "The Cove" campaign is to create worldwide awareness of this annual slaughtering practice to ultimately pressure those in power to put an end to the slaughter.

In this documentary, Richard O'Barry, the main trainer and caretaker of "Kathy" the world-famous dolphin from the television series "Flipper," enlists the help of Louie Psihoyos, an experienced National Geographic photographer, to help design a team of specialists to capture footage of the annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji. For O'Barry this cause hits close to home because the success of "Flipper" is viewed as the catalyst to the creation of dolphin theme parks all over the world. The number one location in the world where these dolphins are captured for captivity is Taiji, where the best dolphins are sold to parks and other exhibits for as much as $150,000 per dolphin.

O'Barry, Psihoyos, and their time used techniques that are probably more common to a James Bond movie to come up with a plan to infiltrate this heavily guarded area, place some hidden cameras, and get some proof on film. And the truth is shocking. And watching video of this is only more disturbing.
Naturally, these fishermen have gone through the trouble of capturing these dolphins. The dolphins that aren't purchased by a "Sea World" like organization must be put to good use. And the use these fishermen come up with is pretty unsettling.

Captivity for these wide-ranging and sentient animals cannot replicate the diversity of the wild ocean and their many close connections with their family and pod.  Most dolphin species do not do well in captivity.  Recently two scientists, former trainers of orcas at Sea World, reported that of 193 orcas caught for captivity, only 41 now survive.  The average age of the ones that have died was only 6.6 years, a fraction of the lifespan of wild orcas which can live 50-70 years or longer.  Even for dolphins that live long in captivity, the sensory deprivation and social sterility of captivity is akin to a human prison.

On September 1, 2011 the six-month dolphin hunting season will open again, and fishermen in Taiji plan to take to the cove despite international pressure. Education, awareness and persistence are the only tools to eventually turn the tide. Educate yourself at http://www.savejapandolphins.org/.