- Posted September 15, 2012 by This iReport is part of an
assignment: Impact Your World 80-100 pilot whales await
slaughter in The Cove, Taiji An urgent situation is occurring
right this moment in Japan, where the fishermen of the village
of Taiji, made famous by the Academy award-winning documentary
The Cove, have herded and corralled 80 to 100 pilot whales and
bottlenose dolphins. These animals have been held for two days,
cut off from their natural food supply, awaiting a decision by
the fishermen whether they will be slaughtered, sold into
captivity or released. Approximately 25 pilot whales were
slaughtered on September 9, 2012, so it is predictable that the
fishermen intend the same for these. Because of the extreme
stress and lack of food, the whales and dolphins are becoming
weak and more likely to perish, even in the unlikely event that
the fishermen decide to release them to the ocean. Immediate
intervention is needed to save them from this horrific fate.
Photo courtesy of Sea Shepherd Conservation