Taiji Cove dolphin hunt begins in Japan amid protests
Source: USA Today
Taiji Cove dolphin hunt begins in Japan amid protests
Larry Copeland, USA TODAY 5:23 p.m. EST January 18, 2014
Despite protests from conservationists, an annual dolphin hunt took place Saturday at Taiji Cove in Japan.
According to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a Friday Harbor, Wash.-based non-profit group that protects marine life, five separate pods of Bottlenose dolphins — more than 250 in all, including babies and juveniles — "were driven into Taiji's infamous killing cove (Friday) and held overnight.
"Today, the members of the pod will face a violent and stressful captive selection process," the group warned Saturday. "Babies and mothers will be torn from each other's sides as some are taken for captivity, some are killed, and others are driven back out to sea to fend for themselves."
CNN reported that by the end of the day Saturday in Taiji, 25 dolphins had been removed from their pod and taken "to a lifetime of imprisonment," according to the group. One of them died in the process and will be butchered, the group said. The dolphins will be kept penned in the cove overnight before the selection process begins again on Sunday.
Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/01/18/japan-dolphin-hunt-proceeds/4637965/
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