Taiji Week 5 – Sept. 29-Oct. 5

This has been a blue week for the most part in Taiji.  Sunday, the fisherman went out and came back empty-handed, and the blue trend continued for the next  three days.  This was particularly good news since the fisherman were officially permitted to begin the slaughter per their WAZA agreement starting on October 1.

Thursday, the banger boats found a pod and started driving them into the cove but the dolphins got away.  What a celebration – 15 days of blue!

Unfortunately the celebration all came to an end on Friday when a large pod of pilot whales were herded into the cove and netted off, left overnight.  Cramped, scared and hungry, this pod was left to await the slaughter that was surely expected this morning.  However, due to heavy rain and strong wind this morning, the slaughter was delayed.

According to Melissa Sehgal’s facebook page:

Heavy rain and strong wind delay slaughter. This family of Pilot whales continue to fight the strong current and keep getting tossed by high tides against nets and rocks. There are juveniles and many young babies less than a few months old within this pod. Chances of survival for the young are very slim after adult mother whales are slaughtered. For more details visit www.seashepherd.org/cove-guardians/

I can’t imagine how panicked and hungry they must feel after being cramped and hungry for 2 days.  How cruel!

 Sea Shepherd Cove Guardians took a break from the cove this week to film this video of dolphins at night in the Taiji Whale Museum.  It is heartbreaking to watch them bored and calling out.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6InuF307qwc

You can also read a commentary by Scott West regarding IMATA’s stand towards dophins being taken into captivity by drive fisheries.