taiji dolphin drives News

Osaka - BBC filmmaker and personal friend Martyn Stewart has been detained at Kansai Airport in Osaka on his way to document the dolphin drives that take place in Taiji, Japan. Stewart, known for his powerful filming, is being accused of eco-terrorism.

In response to international outrage over the dolphin drives in Taiji, Japan, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) issued a strong statement condemning the drive hunts. But they completely overlooked the main culprit — JAZA.

Taiji - Ric O'Barry, star of The Cove movie, is refuting the Japanese Government's allegations that dolphin drive hunts are a part of Japanese tradition.

Three Japanese conservation groups are placing pressure on the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) to take action and ask the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA), to comply with the WAZA Code of Ethics.

Dolphins suffer in captivity. These highly intelligent and self-aware creatures cannot be humanely kept in captivity. Therefore, a change in thinking in dealing with them is urgently required.

Sochi - As the Russian city of Sochi gears up for the 2014 Winter Olympics, two killer whales recently captured from the wild in the Russian Far East will debut in Sochi for the Olympic Games along with a dolphin torchbearer.

Chicago - The International Marine Animal Trainers Association (IMATA) annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, could have been the perfect opportunity for the organization to condemn the Taiji dolphin drives. Instead say critics, IMATA appeared to endorse them.

Doha - A new temporary lease dolphin show run by Ukrainian company NEMO or Nerum LLC, is opening in Qatar. According to the show, National Geographic is sponsoring their endeavors, despite NEMO's import of dolphins captured in the Taiji dolphin drives.

Taiji - In just a few hours, the Japanese dolphin drive season will officially begin in Taiji. The annual quota allocated by the Fisheries Union has also been established. It's set at more than 2,000 dolphins.

Buffalo - Buffalo, NY, will be highlighting the plight of Japanese dolphins on Sept. 1. The protest, timed to coincide with The Cove star Ric O'Barry and his trip to Taiji, will be hosted by two activists at Bidwell Park.