More than 60 conservation groups in 32 countries will be taking part in the international protest on Wednesday in the hope that adverse publicity will persuade the Japanese government to revoke the hunters' fishing permits.

Last week, "drive hunters" on Japan's south-east coast drove 25 dolphins into a cove, then surrounded the frightened
pod with boats and banged long metal poles underwater to create a wall of sound and disorient the dolphins.
After netting the terrified dolphins, the hunters cut their victim’s throats with large knives.
These gentle, intelligent sea mammals then thrashed about in agony in a blood-red ocean,
some taking up to 10 minutes to die from their wounds.
Around 20,000 dolphins will be butchered off the coast of Japan in the next six months.
Video footage is available at www.SaveTaijiDolphins.org

But not all dolphins are killed during these “dolphin-drives”.
A handful are picked out and “rescued” to supply 50 aquariums in Japan that
bankroll this savage hunt. In turn, these aquariums sell dolphins to other aquariums
around the world, like the Vancouver Aquarium, where currently there are
three performing dolphins on display recently bought in Japan.

The Vancouver Aquarium is a member of the World Association of Zoos

and Aquariums (WAZA), an association that condemns this method of capture..

WAZA president Karen Sausman wrote a recent letter to its members to remind them that “it is in direct violation of the Code of Ethics and Animal Welfare… to accept dolphins collected by a drive fishery operation or to be in any way connected with dolphin drive activities.”

Paul Watson of the SeaShepherd Conservation Society wrote to aquarium CEO John Nightingale, “If the Vancouver Aquarium brings dolphins from Japan, the Aquarium will be implicated directly with the mass killings of dolphins in Japan and the public will be constantly reminded that the dolphins on display are there because the Vancouver Aquarium supports, through its actions, the brutal dolphin death drives in Japan. Therefore I respectfully request that you not bring in dolphins from Japan and that you not be associated with the shameful bloody slaughter on Japanese beaches.”

The following groups will protest the dolphin slaughter:Animals Asia - Hong KongAnimalisti Italiani Onlus - RomeAnimal Voices Radio - TorontoAnimal Welfare Institute - Washington DCAnimal Rights Hawaii - WaikikiAnimanaturalis - Barcelona/Mexico City/Bogotá/Madrid/Caracas/La PazAsian Animal Protection Network - Hong KongBegley's Best - Los AngelesBlue Voice - San FranciscoBorn Free Foundation - LondonBritish Divers Marine Life Rescue - LondonCalgary Animal Rights Coalition - CalgaryCenter for Environmental Concerns - ManilaCircusleed - Den HaagCitizens Environmental Advocacy Centre - WellingtonCompassion in Action -CalgaryCompassion and Responsibility for Animals - ManilaCampaign Whale - LondonCaptive Animals Protection Society - LondonCare for the Wild - LondonCetacea Defence - LondonCetacean Society International - New YorkCOMARINO - Mexico CityCommittee for a Dolphinarium-free Belgium - BrusselsDolphin Care UK - LondonDolphin Project - MiamiEarth Island Institute - San Francisco/ManilaEDEV - Den HaagEVANA - BrusselsEnvironmental Investigation Agency - LondonGlobal Ocean - LondonGAIA - BrusselsHSUS/HSI - Washington DCIgualdad Animal - Lima/MadridIn Defense of Animals - San Francisco/Seattle/ Los Angeles/PortlandInternational Animal Rescue - LondonKalikasan People's Network for the Environment - ManilaLast Chance for Animals - Los AngelesLINC - Hong KongMarine Connection - LondonMassachusetts Animal Rights Coalition - BostonNo Whales In Captivity – Vancouver, CanadaNomades des Oceans - ParisNY Whale and Dolphin Action League - New YorkOne Voice - ParisOrca Network - SeattlePalawan Animal Welfare Association - ManilaPETA - ManilaPhilippines Animal Welfare Society - ManilaProject ARC - BostonRattle the Cage Productions - MiamiReearth - NassauResponsible Animal Care Society – OkanaganScience & Technology Advocates for the People - ManilaSea Mammal Support Group - Den HaagSea Shepherd Conservation Society - Den Haag/Calgary/Budapest/Melbourne/SeattleWDCS - London/Washington DCWSPA - London/BostonZoocheck - Toronto
FOR MORE INFORMATION

Annelise Sorg

Telephone (604) 736-9514
Coalition For No Whales In Captivity

www.nowhalesincaptivity.org