In Photos: From Sea to Stage

Thinking of visiting a marine park or aquarium? Ever wonder where the performing dolphins come from? With over 150 orders for live dolphins from Taiji, Japan during the 2015/16 drive season, many of these “entertainers” would have been caught from wild waters. Thrashing and vocalizing in panic, separated from their decimated pod, hauled via truck and/or air, these sentient and sensitive mammals are forever imprisoned in manmade facilities, forced into their new “lives” with absolutely no regard for their unique needs – needs which have been cultivated over millions of years of evolution.

As visuals often speak louder than words, take a look at the photos we’ve assembled, from the moment of capture to the transfer of dolphins to their buyers.

It’s not about tradition or culture. It’s all about profit and greed, powered by the engine of the captivity industry. The real money is made in the trade of dolphins to aquariums and marine parks. Taiji is ground zero for the largest trafficking of dolphins in the world.” ~ Ric O’Barry, Founder/Director, Dolphin Project

Swimming tightly together, a exhausted pod of bottlenose dolphins is driven into the cove, Taiji, Japan
Photo credit: Dolphin Project

A pod of bottlenose dolphins awaits their fate while being held overnight in the cove, Taiji, Japan
Photo credit: Dolphin Project

Bottlenose dolphin attempts escape and gets caught in nets, Taiji, Japan
Photo credit: Dolphin Project

Driven in and wrangled into net for a life of captivity, Taiji, Japan
Photo credit: Dolphin Project

Freshly captured dolphins receive hydration and medication, Taiji, Japan
Photo credit: Dolphin Project

Manhandled by trainers, bottlenose dolphin being prepped for life in captivity, Taiji, Japan
Photo credit: Dolphin Project

With the ocean just out of reach, a freshly-caught Pacific White-sided dolphin is being prepped for life in captivity, Taiji, Japan
Photo credit: Dolphin Project

Transfer of bottlenose dolphins, destination unknown, Taiji, Japan
Photo credit: Dolphin Project

Captive dolphins, transported in wooden crates, arrive to their final destination
Photo credit: Dolphin Project

Bottlenose dolphin adjusts to new “life” in indoor, concrete tank, trading tricks for dead fish
Photo credit: Xinhua/Guo Chen / Hefei Aquarium, China

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Take the pledge to NOT buy a ticket to a dolphin show.

Your help in supporting our campaign in Taiji is greatly appreciated and needed. Click here to donate.

Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the USA (Tax ID 47-1665067), and donations are tax-deductible.

Featured image: Family of bottlenose dolphins await their fate after being trapped overnight in The Cove, Taiji, Japan, 2-6-16
Photo credit: Heather Hill & Ivana Grubisic/Dolphin Project