Saving the Dolphins

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What drives a person to commit a moral turpitude such as capturing or killing an innocent creature, just because you can make a little money for doing it? That is something that many have been trying to understand since the issue of the slaughtering of dolphins in Taiji, Japan and other places around the world, has arisen. The “hunt” has been a Japanese tradition since the mid 1600’s. Over the years, they have “improved” their techniques and tools used in the slaughtering process. The issue has raised a lot of awareness throughout the world, and many countries have banned the practice of the slaughtering because of Japan’s display of animal cruelty. Due to increasing negative health effects on human health, inhumane mass slaughtering, and the negative impact it has on other species, the fight to end whaling has become a widely recognized issue throughout the world.
On the southern end of Japan, there is a small fishing town called Taiji. Although the population peaks just over 3,000 people, this place holds a very dark secret that most of the Japanese population, until recently, is unaware of. It is home to “the cove.” Every year between the months of September to March, approximately 20,000 dolphins are slaughtered in the cove and sold for their meat or into captivity. "The cove" is maintained 24 hours a day with 10 guards on duty to ensure that no one that no one comes near the area where the killing takes place. Many have tried to sneak through the fences or around the jagged rocks that surround it, but few have gotten through to see the horrors that lies behind the rocks. The rest are apprehended by the fishermen themselves, as well as the local authorities (The Cove).
One effect of this hunting is the negative health effec...

... middle of paper ...

... save these “smiling” animals from being on the verge of endangerment. If the United States comes together as a nation and supports anti-whaling, our example will pressure other countries to do the same, and ensure the longevity of the dolphins.

Work Cited
Frank, Joshua. “Taiji-Japan’s Dolphin Slaughter Continues.” ecologist.com. Ecologist, 30 Jan. 2014.
Web. 25 Feb. 2014.
Palmer, Mark. “Dolphin Day In Taiji.” savejapandolphins.com. Save Japan Dolphins, 30 Apr. 2012
Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
The Cove. Psihoyos, Louie. Ric O’Barry. Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions. 2009. Film
Wakatsuki, Yoko. “Dolphin Slaughter Starts at Japan’s taiji Cove, fisherman says.” CNN Wire
2014: Global Issues in Context. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.
Watson, Paul. “Taiji’s Dolphin Hunts Continue.” seashepard.org. Sea Shepard, 29 Jan. 2014.
Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

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