THE DOLPHINS OF TAIJI Approximately   20,000   cetaceans,   including   dolphins,   small   whales   and  porpoises,  are  killed  in  Japanese  waters  each  year.  In  the  small  coastal  town  

of   Taiji,   Japan,   hundreds   to  thousands   of   dolphins   and   small  whales   are   captured   and   killed   each  year   for   the   annual   dolphin   drive  hunt.    

For   a   staggering   six  months  of   every  year   -­‐  September  1st  until  March   -­‐  a  group   of   hunters   herd   wild   dolphins  and   small   whales   from   the   ocean’s  open   waters   into   a   hidden   shallow  bay,   now   infamously   known   around  the  world  as  the  cove.    

The   hunters   capture   entire   families,  or  pods,  of  various  species  of  dolphins  and  small  whales  at  a  time  in  order  to   satisfy   the   international   demand   for   captive   cetaceans   in   the  entertainment   industry.   Those   taken   captive   are   sent   to   aquariums   and  marine   parks   worldwide.   The   remaining   dolphins   and   small   whales   are  killed   by   a   hunting   technique   known   as   “pithing,”   which   leaves   the   still  conscious  animals  paralyzed  and  often  drowning  in  the  blood  of  their  own  family  members.  

While the flesh of a dead dolphin sells for approximately $500, a live dolphin caught and trained in Taiji can fetch up to $500,000. As dolphin and whale meat are losing favor, dolphin shows are more popular than ever and effectively fund the slaughter.

Photos:  Dolphins  captured  in  Taiji,  Japan,  for  the  captivity  industry.  

THE DOLPHINS OF TAIJI Approximately   20,000   cetaceans,   including   dolphins,   small   whales   and  porpoises,  are  killed  in  Japanese  waters  each  year.  In  the  small  coastal  town  

of   Taiji,   Japan,   hundreds   to  thousands   of   dolphins   and   small  whales   are   captured   and   killed   each  year   for   the   annual   dolphin   drive  hunt.    

For   a   staggering   six  months  of   every  year   -­‐  September  1st  until  March   -­‐  a  group   of   hunters   herd   wild   dolphins  and   small   whales   from   the   ocean’s  open   waters   into   a   hidden   shallow  bay,   now   infamously   known   around  the  world  as  the  cove.    

The   hunters   capture   entire   families,  or  pods,  of  various  species  of  dolphins  and  small  whales  at  a  time  in  order  to   satisfy   the   international   demand   for   captive   cetaceans   in   the  entertainment   industry.   Those   taken   captive   are   sent   to   aquariums   and  marine   parks   worldwide.   The   remaining   dolphins   and   small   whales   are  killed   by   a   hunting   technique   known   as   “pithing,”   which   leaves   the   still  conscious  animals  paralyzed  and  often  drowning  in  the  blood  of  their  own  family  members.  

While the flesh of a dead dolphin sells for approximately $500, a live dolphin caught and trained in Taiji can fetch up to $500,000. As dolphin and whale meat are losing favor, dolphin shows are more popular than ever and effectively fund the slaughter.

Photos:  Dolphins  captured  in  Taiji,  Japan,  for  the  captivity  industry.  

OPERATION HENKAKUFor   the  past   several   years,  protestors  and   reporters  have  gone   to  Taiji   on  September  1st  to  document  the  beginning  of  the  six-­‐month  seasonal  hunt.    

In   2010,   Sea   Shepherd   launched   its   first Cove Guardian  campaign.  That   same   year,   the   number   of   dolphins   and   small   whales   killed   was  halved   due   to   the   continuous   presence   of   Sea   Shepherd’s   volunteer crew.   For   the   first   time,   the   entire   drive   hunt   season   was  documented  and  recorded  –  the  hunt  was  now  exposed  to  the  world.  Each   year   since   2010,   Sea   Shepherd   has   had   an   ongoing   presence   of   volunteers   from   around   the   world   who   remain   on   the   ground   in   Taiji;   the   only   group   documenting   the   cove   throughout   the   six-month   hunt   season.   The   2015-2016   campaign, named Operation Henkaku, or Transformation, marks   the   sixth   year   of  our Cove Guardian campaign and reflects our evolving efforts to end the capture and slaughter of cetaceans.

With   your   help,   we   will  encourage   Japan   to   end  Taiji’s   unnecessary   hunt   and  capture   of   these   incredibly  intelligent,   sentient   beings.  We  are  passionate,  dedicated  and   committed   to   achieving  permanent   freedom   for   the  dolphins  and  small  whales  of  Taiji.  

Photo:  Sea  Shepherd  Cove  Guardians  in  Taiji,  Japan  2015.  

Please  visit  our  website  for  more  information  and  find  out  how  you  can  help:  

WWW.SEASHEPHERD.ORG/HENKAKU

OPERATION HENKAKUFor   the  past   several   years,  protestors  and   reporters  have  gone   to  Taiji   on  September  1st  to  document  the  beginning  of  the  six-­‐month  seasonal  hunt.    

With   your   help,   we   will  encourage   Japan   to   end  Taiji’s   unnecessary   hunt   and  capture   of   these   incredibly  intelligent,   sentient   beings.  We  are  passionate,  dedicated  and   committed   to   achieving  permanent   freedom   for   the  dolphins  and  small  whales  of  Taiji.  

Photo:  Sea  Shepherd  Cove  Guardians  in  Taiji,  Japan  2015.  

Please  visit  our  website  for  more  information  and  find  out  how  you  can  help:  

WWW.SEASHEPHERD.ORG/HENKAKU

In   2010,   Sea   Shepherd   launched   its   first Cove Guardian  campaign.  That   same   year,   the   number   of   dolphins   and   small   whales   killed   was  halved   due   to   the   continuous   presence   of   Sea   Shepherd’s   volunteer crew.   For   the   first   time,   the   entire   drive   hunt   season   was  documented  and  recorded  –  the  hunt  was  now  exposed  to  the  world.  Each   year   since   2010,   Sea   Shepherd   has   had   an   ongoing   presence   of   volunteers   from   around   the   world   who   remain   on   the   ground   in   Taiji;   the   only   group   documenting   the   cove   throughout   the   six-month   hunt   season.   The   2015-2016   campaign, named Operation Henkaku, or Transformation, marks   the   sixth   year   of  our Cove Guardian campaign and reflects our evolving efforts to end the capture and slaughter of cetaceans.