Two Weeks of Torture in Taiji

I've been away from Blogger for the past couple weeks but the brutality in Taiji has continued in full force.

For those of you who are not familiar with the horror in Taiji, I try to report on the brutal slaughter and capture of dolphins in the hidden cove of Japan.  This hunt started in September and continues through March.  The "fisherman" herd pods of dolphins into the cove by banging on the sides of their boats with long, metal pipes.  The dolphins are drawn closer to shore where they are netted into a small area.  Scared, hungry and often injured they are sometimes left for days.  Other times they are immediately killed or the young or "pretty" ones are picked for marine parks around the world, sold for up to $150,000 each.  Meat is sold for human consumption.  

The past two weeks have been the most brutal since the season started.  

On Thursday, the 17th, a pod of 6 Risso dolphins were slaughtered quickly followed by 16 Striped dolphins.
The next day, 58-60 Striped dolphins were killed.

Sunday the 20th, 38 bottlenosed dolphins were driven into the cove.  13 were chosen for captivity, 1 drowned in the nets, and 24 were killed.
Monday 54-56 Pantropical spotted dolphins were driven in the cove.  24 were chosen for captivity, 2 others died of stress during the captivity captures and another became injured and was added to the remainder of the pod, all killed.
Tuesday, heavy rains brought reprieve for the dolphins while Taiji Action Day for Dolphins was celebrated.
Wednesday the hunt continued with 28-30 Pantropical Spotted dolphin were driven into the cove.  Fifteen were chosen for captivity to live in Taiji Whale Museum, Dolphin Base and Dolphin Resort Hotel.  All others were killed.
Thursday there were 30 Risso dolphins brought in.  One juvenile was chosen for captivity while he watched his family be slaughtered.  Friday, 14 more Rissos were skilled.
Saturday was another calm day before Sunday when 56-58 Risso dolphins were driven into the cove.  Twenty-six were slaughtered while the others were released back to sea 2 hours later.  By then, after watching the others killed and being netted in tight quarters, it is unlikely that they survived.
Thankfully this week there has not been any more killing or capture.

This was by far the worst couple weeks of the hunt, breaking records of previous years.
In just 2 weeks, 75 Rissos, 40-44 Pantropic Spotted, 74-76 Striped and 24 Bottlenosed killed.
2 Rissos, 39 Pantropic Spotted, and 13 Bottlenosed were taken for captivity
3 Pantropic Spotted and 1 Bottlenosed died of stress or drowning.

Grand total is 217-233 dead dolphins and 54 taken for a life in a concrete tank in 2 weeks!

Please consider signing these petitions for both the slaughter and for anti-captivity of these animals if you haven't already.
1.  https://www.change.org/petitions/waza-imata-top-upporting-the-dolphin-laughter-in-taiji

2.  http://www.change.org/petitions/imata-trainers-don-t-train-taiji-dolphins

3.  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/stop-the-dolphin-slaughter/

4.  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/5/stop-dolphin-captivity

Please consider taking a few minutes to sign.

Don't forget to "Like" my Ocean Advocate Facebook page.  I've also recently broken down and joined Twitter.  You can follow Here.  There are more frequent updates about Taiji, Sea Shepherd and other marine mammal happenings.