ANIMAL rights groups on Sunday called for an end to the annual killing of 20,000 dolphins in Japan during a protest in front of the Japanese Embassy at Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

They cited the brutal dolphin hunt in Taiji Cove in Japan, where dolphins and whales were herded and killed for meat or captured to be sold to marine parks.

Anna Cabrera, executive director of PAWS, said schools should stop setting educational field trips in marine parks as these facilities “source their animals from and funds the cruel Taiji dolphin hunts.





“By stopping the demand here, we hope to end this cruelty,” Cabrera told reporters.

The long history of “whaling” in Japan began during the 1600’s, where whales were initially taken by means of hand harpoons and small boats. The use of fishing nets in 1675 was introduced in whaling, which then prompted the spread of the industry throughout Japan.

Typically, fishermen pursue pods of dolphins across open seas, banging metal poles against their boats to disturb their hypersensitive sonar, thereby herding them into the cove.

Dolphin meat for human consumption generates only modest profits, but Taiji’s fishermen can reportedly sell a live specimen to brokers for about $8,000.

Trixie Concepcion, Asia-Pacific director of Earth Island Institute, said the joint efforts of different international animal and environmental protections groups were starting to control dolphin slaughter in Japan.

Last year, only 601 dolphins were killed during the annual dolphin hunt out of a quota of 2,781.

“Our actions are having positive effects on reducing dolphin mortality in Japan,” said Concepcion.

The Japanese government allows over 2,000 cetaceans to be slaughtered or captured annually. NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS