Dolphin Hunting in Taiji Japan Begins Sep. 1st.

Dawn to Death -The Dolphins of Taiji"

Dawn to Death -The Dolphins of Taiji on Vimeo

The Cove Movie Extended Clip - Taiji

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Don't Let This Happen Anymore!

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The goal of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is to guide, encourage and support the zoos, aquariums and like-minded organizations of the world in animal care and welfare, environmental education and global conservation. But there is nothing further from that mission than the inhumane methods employed in the Taiji Drive Hunt. There is an agreement between Taiji and WAZA which states there is not to be killing of Bottlenose dolphins during the month of September: www.waza.org/files/webcontent/1.public_site/5.con... principles, reference to dolphins.pdf WHY JUST SEPTEMBER? WHY JUST BOTTLENOSE? WHY DOES WAZA PUT ITS ORGANIZATIONAL HEAD IN THE SAND AS DOLPHINS OF MANY SPECIES ARE KILLED FROM SEPTEMBER TO MARCH IN TAIJI?

While WAZA purports to love animals, its indifference to the inhumane methods of driving, herding, capturing and killing employed by the Taiji Fishermen's Union makes WAZA just as culpable as those who bang the poles or those who push the metal rods behind the blowholes of these extremely intelligent animals. WAZA has the power, influence and ability to bring an end to the atrocities of Taiji. The time to hold WAZA accountable...the time for WAZA to stand up for the dolphins IS TODAY! PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE WIDELY TO TELL WAZA THAT THE WORLD IS WATCHING. THE WORLD IS WAITING AND IS DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WAZA'S PURCHASE SELECTION OF DOLPHINS.

WAZA MUST AGREE THAT IT WILL EXPEL ANY MEMBERS WHO ACCEPT ANY DOLPHIN THAT IS COLLECTED FROM A DRIVE HUNT, ESPECIALLY FROM A DRIVE HUNT FROM THE INFAMOUS COVE OF TAIJI.

Please sign to DEMAND that WAZA DOES NOT support this brutal Taiji dolphin hunt: WAZA must expel IMMEDIATELY the Taiji Whale Museum for routinely violating the WAZA Code of Ethics.

★Petitioning Dr. Gerald Dick WAZA: $TOP $UPPORTING TAIJI'$ DOLPHIN $LAUGHTER AND EXPEL THE TAIJI WHALE MUSEUM IMMEDIATELY !! www.waza.org/files/webcontent/1.public_site/5.con...

★Sign the PLEDGE: Japan Taiji. We will continue to spread the awareness of dolphins cruelty. http://www.change.org/p/please-sign-the-ptition-t...

★Add Your Voice: Support Satoshi Komiyama's Fight Against Dolphin Slaughter https://takeaction.takepart.com/actions/add-your-...

PLEASE ★SIGN & SHARE PETITIONS TELL AIRLINES TO STOP TRANSPORTING DOLPHINS TO MARINE PARKS https://takeaction.takepart.com/actions/add-your-...

THE COVE : ★SIGN THE PETITION TO HELP SAVE JAPAN'S DOLPHINS https://takeaction.takepart.com/actions/add-your-...

About WAZA The goal of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums is to guide, encourage and support the zoos, aquariums and like-minded organisations of the world in animal care and welfare, environmental education and global conservation.

Taiji Drive Fishery Date: 2013/09/12 Statement of clarification WAZA does not support, and has never supported, the Taiji dolphin fishery in any way. To the contrary, WAZA has attempted to intervene directly, and has endeavoured to use its influence to bring to an end a practice which surely has no place in modern times. WAZA's efforts will continue, through direct engagement and influence, until the practice is halted. Secondly, WAZA does not represent ALL zoos and aquariums - it represents a group of progressive and passionate conservationists who are united in support of wild animals and wild places around the world.

WAZA strongly condemns the Taiji dolphin drive hunt Date: 2014/01/24 This hunt is inhumane and leads to the death of many dolphins. English: While the Taiji drive fisheries do not involve any WAZA institutional members, the Association is deeply concerned about this practice and is taking all action possible to help stop it. Contrary to certain media reports, the Taiji Whale Museum is not and never has been a WAZA member. Like other NGOs, neither WAZA nor its institutional members have any authority or jurisdiction over the drives; however, WAZA will continue to be an active and vocal partner in the global effort to end this unacceptable practice. WAZA and its members are deeply committed to the care and welfare of all wildlife globally. French: L'association Mondiale des Zoos et des Aquariums (WAZA) condamne fermement la pêche aux dauphins par rabattage dans la baie de Taiji, une pratique inhumaine qui provoque la mort de nombreux dauphins. Même si aucun des membres institutionnels de WAZA n'est impliqué dans cette pratique, WAZA est très concerné par ce problème et met en œuvre toutes les actions possibles pour aider à son éradication. Contrairement à ce que prétendent certains reportages dans les médias, le « Taiji Whale Museum » n'est pas et n'a jamais été un membre de WAZA. Comme d'autre ONG, ni WAZA, ni ses membres institutionnels, n'ont le pouvoir juridique ou l'autorité pour mettre fin à cette pratique ; cependant, WAZA continuera à prendre part activement dans l'effort global qui est entreprit pour mettre fin à cette pratique inacceptable. WAZA et ses membres sont profondément engagés dans le soin et le bien être de la faune sauvage à travers le monde.

Taiji Dolphin Drive Hunt Qs&As;

What is the "Taiji Dolphin Drive Hunt?" In the Japanese coastal village of Taiji, wild dolphins are caught for human consumption. While doing so, fishermen are driving dolphins into nets and ultimately to a coastal bay. A small proportion of those dolphins are taken for aquariums.

Does WAZA condemn or support this practise? No. WAZA does not support, and has never supported, the Taiji dolphin fishery in any way. WAZA has consistently condemned the practice of the drive hunt method. At its Annual meeting in 2004 the conference adopted a resolution on this issue. In 2014 WAZA published an additional statement to further clarify the role: The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) strongly condemns the Taiji dolphin drive hunt that is inhumane and leads to the death of many dolphins. While the Taiji drive fisheries do not involve any WAZA institutional members, the Association is deeply concerned about this practice and is taking all action possible to help stop it.

Why is WAZA accused of being involved or even responsible for this hunt? Some organisations incorrectly assume that WAZA represents and is responsible for all zoos and aquariums in the world. This is not accurate. WAZA is a global network of animal welfare and conservation professionals that works to make positive changes that benefit wildlife. We do so by promoting cooperation and dialogue not only among zoos and aquariums, but companies and communities globally. Our international work is comparable to the international conservation work pursued in global treaties or conservation conventions. We do not accredit members but instead work to unite them for conservation efforts. We have no governing authority or jurisdiction over any member's actions.

Is there any WAZA member getting species from this hunt? No WAZA member institutions have dolphins from the Taiji drive hunt operation.

What is WAZA doing to stop the dolphin hunt? WAZA and its members are deeply committed to the care and welfare of all wildlife globally. WAZA has engaged all bodies of the association, publically taken a clear standpoint on the issue and continues to advocate for intensified captive breeding programmes to phase out the take of dolphins from the wild.

Why can't WAZA permanently end the dolphin hunt? Like other NGOs, WAZA has no authority or jurisdiction over the drives. However, WAZA will continue to be an active and vocal partner in the global effort to end this unacceptable practice as WAZA and its members are deeply committed to the care and welfare of all wildlife globally.

Is the Taiji Whale Museum, performing those hunts, a member of WAZA? Contrary to certain media reports, the Taiji Whale Museum is not and never has been a WAZA member.

Is JAZA (The Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums) responsible for these hunts? The full responsibility for whaling and the establishment of dolphin quotas is with the Japanese government and the responsible Fisheries Ministry. Every year the Japanese government establishes a quota for dolphin catches and the drive hunt. The majority of the dolphins are used for human consumption and a small proportion is taken for Japanese aquariums and some are exported. The operation is part of Japanese fisheries regulations. Members of JAZA are allowed to take live dolphins for their aquariums.

Is JAZA a member of WAZA? JAZA's membership with WAZA grants membership to the Association but it does not extend membership to each individual JAZA member institution.

Why does WAZA not expel JAZA from its organisation? WAZA's impact as an association comes from our ability to organize and activate our members to collectively advance animal welfare and conservation. WAZA is working globally through dialogue with all regions.

What is WAZAs latest statement on the drive hunt? WAZA does not support, and has never supported, the Taiji dolphin fishery in any way. To the contrary, WAZA has attempted to intervene directly, and has endeavoured to use its influence to bring to an end a practice which surely has no place in modern times. WAZA's efforts will continue, through direct engagement and influence, until the practice is halted. Secondly, WAZA does not represent ALL zoos and aquariums - it represents a group of progressive and passionate conservationists who are united in support of wild animals and wild places around the world. (Feb 2014)

An albino bottlenose dolphin is seen swimming in a pool at the Taiji Whale Museum on January 18, 2014.↓

Surging numbers: Visitors learn about dolphins at Shimoda Aquarium in Shizuoka Prefecture on Sunday. The aquarium is one of just a handful in Japan that does not take dolphins from the wild but instead breeds them on-site. | ROB GILHOOLY↓

Dolphin Drive Fishery in Taiji: WAZA/JAZA summit leads to incremental progress Date: 2014/08/10 WAZA convened a meeting today in Tokyo with representatives from the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA)... 10 August 2014, Tokyo, JAPAN - The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) convened a meeting today in Tokyo with representatives from the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) in order to discuss concerns regarding the Taiji dolphin drive fishery hunt. Representatives from Elsa Nature Conservancy were also in attendance. Potential steps forward were identified during the meeting. The complexity of the entire issue was discussed in detail and the different purposes of catches and the multiple involved parties were identified and discussed. It was made clear that the take of dolphins for JAZA institutions was relatively minor compared to the large demand for export of dolphins to many non-JAZA institutions, the majority of them in China, as well as the continued primary demand for dolphin meat for consumption in Japan. Non-JAZA institutions and commercial brokers who facilitate the export of live dolphins in combination account for far more dolphin takes than do members of JAZA. However, as JAZA members still play a role in the live takes, WAZA approached the meeting by advocating for the eventual elimination of the drive fishery hunt. At the outset of the meeting, WAZA representatives, Lee Ehmke, President and Gerald Dick, Executive Director and Suzanne Gendron, Aquarium Committee Vice-Chair advocated for a moratorium in which dolphin takes would cease for two years in order to allow for the development of alternatives. Unfortunately, JAZA indicated that this was not realistic and therefore did not accept the concept of a moratorium. As a step towards the eventual elimination of the drive fisheries, WAZA then proposed that the hunting and capturing activities be completely separated, JAZA indicated that the Japanese government and other parties had in the past rejected a similar proposal but indicated they would reconsider this approach. JAZA then outlined a number of changes to current practices which will reduce the scope and impact of JAZA members' involvement in the annual take of dolphins. While WAZA acknowledges this positive gesture, WAZA indicated that this can only be seen as a beginning and that more substantive changes must follow.

Following the initial meeting between WAZA and JAZA, all parties met with several representatives of Japanese NGOs, organized by ELSA Conservancy to discuss the drive fisheries operation and agreed to continue open dialogue to seek ways of ending the dolphin kill.

Though the developments of the highly anticipated meeting fell short of WAZAs expectations, WAZA will continue to pursue all opportunities to end the dolphin drive fishery hunt and will consider further steps and consequences. Background The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is a global organisation that harmonises the principles, policies, practices and strategy for Zoos and Aquariums worldwide. Via member regional associations WAZA reaches over 1,300 leading Zoos and Aquariums. WAZA is the unifying representative of the global Zoos and Aquarium community and works in partnership with international conservation organisations such as IUCN and other non-government organisations to advocate for high standards of animal welfare and to achieve conservation in Zoos and Aquariums (ex situ) and in nature (in situ). http://www.waza.org/en/site/pressnews-events/pres...

WAZA Facts and Figures Attracting more than 700 million visitors a year, the 1,300 zoos and aquariums that are part of the WAZA network have the unique potential to attract, inspire and mobilize public engagement for species and habitat conservation. The Biodiversity Is Us campaign allows visitors to make a direct connection between people and wildlife. Zoos and aquariums educate the public on biodiversity conservation, and hence promote environmentally sustainable development and social and political change. Some of the revenue produced by the zoos and aquariums is dedicated to field conservation projects around the world. Collectively, the amount contributed to these efforts by zoos and aquariums matches or surpasses the contributions of other leading global conservation organizations. With 70% of the world's population living in cities by 2030, zoos and aquariums offer a vital connection to the importance of biodiversity in our lives.