Amplifies awareness of Taiji dolphin killing TOKYO, Japan––“Be careful what you wish for,” someone might have reminded the government of Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. Seeking to silence global criticism of dolphin slaughters and captures for exhibition, at the height of the 2015-2016 Taiji dolphin hunting season, the Japanese government has held dolphin defender […]
“I shall return,” Ric O’Barry tells Taiji after torture
New year begins with “Blue Cove Days,” but probably not for long TAIJI, Japan––December 2015 concluded and 2016 began with 10 consecutive “Blue Cove Days,” as Dolphin Project founder Ric O’Barry calls days when no dolphins are killed at the infamous scene near Taiji where the 2009 Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove was covertly filmed. […]
Ric O’Barry reports campaign success in China
Good news continues from China, where I have been on a book promotion tour for the Simplified Chinese edition of The Cove, with Swiss journalist Hans Peter Roth and photographer Sasha Abdolmajid. A user of the Chinese social media platform WeChat posting under the name Enterprise Volunteers on May 23, 2015 merged three media reports […]
Will Solomon Islands dolphin hunters profit from crackdown on Taiji?
JAZA says, “The drive hunt itself is not cruel.” TOKYO, BERKELEY––The Japanese Association of Zoos & Aquariums may have sunk the profits from “drive fishery” dolphin massacres at Taiji, Japan, but what does the JAZA decision mean for the apparently bigger “drive fishery” killings at Fanalei, in the Solomon Islands? Facing expulsion […]
Out the WA-Zoo for Japanese Association of Zoos & Aquariums
Suspends membership over Taiji dolphin slaughter GENEVA, Switzerland––The World Association of Zoos & Aquariums governing council on April 22, 2015 announced that it had voted unanimously to suspend the membership of the Japanese Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Calling itself WAZA for short, but “The WA-Zoo” to critics, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums […]
Fundraising, FADS, “dolphin safe,” & why Ric O’Barry left Earth Island Institute
The U.S. “dolphin safe” standard accepts the use of FADs at the expense of sharks, sea turtles, and many other marine species BERKELEY, OAKLAND––“FADs are bad,” says dolphin defender Ric O’Barry. By FADs, O’Barry means a fishing method so deadly that he believes it makes a travesty of “dolphin safe” tuna labeling. The U.S. “dolphin […]
Ric O’Barry: “You may have received an e-mail with my name on it, but it was not sent by me”
17 December, 2014 As I write this, I am on the ground at the Cove in Taiji. This is my 11th consecutive year visiting the Cove since I first witnessed the slaughter in 2003. My first trip to Taiji was in 1975, five years after the Dolphin Project was born. On September 30, 2014, I […]
The Ric O’Barry prequels to “The Cove” and “Blackfish”
To Free A Dolphin 2000. 269 pages, hardcover. $23.95. Behind The Dolphin Smile 1988, 2000. 300 pages, paperback. $15.95. Both by Ric O Barry with Keith Coulbourn Renaissance Books (5858 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90036.) Reviewed by Merritt Clifton Dolphin Project founder Ric O’Barry is now an internationally recognized film star, through […]
Waiting for the Rising Sun: Ric O’Barry’s wish for 2015
by Ric O’Barry 16 December, 2014 It’s just after 5:30 a.m., local time in Taiji. I’m at the harbor now, waiting for the sun to rise. From the moment I leave my hotel, I am surrounded by police. I am glad they are here, as they’re professional, respectful and fair to both sides. It’s a […]
Nellie, dolphin, lived 61 years at Marineland of Florida
Nellie became the oldest captive-born cetacean on record Nellie, 61, a bottlenose dolphin whose life spanned most of the history of performing dolphins in captivity, died on May 4, 2014 at Marineland of Florida, her home since she was born there on February 27, 1953. The seventh dolphin born at Marineland of Florida, and the […]