The Marine Connection has for many years supported the work of Ric O'Barry and in more recent times, the Save Japan Dolphins Coalition to put an end to the brutal annual drive hunts in Japan. One important aspect of the work is to highlight to the public and media the truth behind these "hunts" and the animals sourced from them to supply marine parks. Now, graphic footage of the annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan has been captured on film during a yearlong operation. Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS), a US conservation group secretly filmed the brutal practices that Taiji had long striven to keep anyone from seeing, and the footage is now being turned into a major documentary feature film destined for worldwide release.

The group made six trips to Taiji, where - like others who have put their safety at risk in an attempt to expose to the world the truth behind the killing coves, they were constantly followed by local police and stalked and harassed by Taiji 'whalers'. Footage was obtained via cameras encased in fake rocks and covertly inserted in the "killing cove" where they successfully recorded the horror that unfolded behind the blue tarpaulins which the whalers erect to keep out prying eyes and lenses.

Cameras were also positioned underwater which meant they were able to capture all facets of the cull, from above and below water, hidden microphones also revealed startling comments from whalers in the killing cove, who were blantantly unconcerned about killing female dolphins and their calves. Captured dolphins were filmed writhing in pain as Taiji whalers speared them repeatedly or cracked their spines with spiked weapons. Stricken dolphins are also shown thrashing about wildly, blood pouring from their wounds until they finally succumbed. Meanwhile, a number of dolphin trainers and officials from the Taiji Whale Museum are shown cooperating in the slaughter — some even laughing — as the killing cove's bloodied, ruby-red water swept round into the adjacent capture cove.

Hopefully, continued worldwide exposure such as this will put an end to the drive hunts which are widely condemned by Japanese scientists, activists and a few Taiji officials, all of whom cite the serious health issues related to consumption of the dolphins' mercury-tainted meat. The documentary is scheduled for general release in June 2008 and we will advise as soon as definite details are available.

image (c) O'Barry