Mini Monitors Return to The Cove

For two children, school break meant traveling to Taiji, Japan to help make a difference for dolphins.

Nine year-old Imogen and 12 year-old Aidan form Dolphin Project’s latest team of Mini Cove Monitors. The pair worked hard to raise funds to cover the costs of their travel, the trip, totally driven by them. This marks Imogen’s fifth stint in Taiji, and Aidan’s first. Both children live in Phuket, Thailand.

Hitting the airwaves! Mini Cove Monitors discuss the plight of dolphins in Japan, and why they want to help. Credit: Vicki Kiely

Mini Cove Monitors en route to Taiji to do their part to help dolphins. Credit: Vicki Kiely/Dolphin Project

Two years ago, Imogen met the Mayor of Taiji, Kazutaka Sangen, delivering a letter to the one person she felt could put a permanent end to the dolphin slaughter. She, along with her classmates had ideas on how Taiji could make money from dolphins without hurting them.

“I told him he should tell the hunters to use the boats to watch dolphins and make people pay money to go on the boats.” ~ Imogen

She hopes to meet the Mayor again with another petition from her school, given that dolphins are still being killed and hunted for a “life” of captivity.

Aidan is originally from North Carolina. Last year, he created a Grade 5 exhibition on The Cove and the plight of dolphins in Japan. This inspired him to travel to Taiji to help expose the truth. The pair are chaperoned by Dolphin Project Cove Monitor, and Imogen’s mother, Vicki Kiely. This will be the fifth time that children from Phuket will stand on the shores of The Cove and help educate young people on the importance of leaving dolphins to swim wild and free, and why captivity is a death sentence for dolphins.

“I saw The Cove and I felt heartbroken for the dolphins and knew I had to help.” ~ Aidan

Aidan visits Angel at the Taiji Whale Museum. Credit: Vicki Kiely/Dolphin Project

Imogen reflects on how wrong it is to keep dolphins in captivity. Photo: Vicki Kiely/DolphinProject.com

Says Vicki: “I am so proud of both Imogen’s and Aidan’s tenacity and compassion. Imogen is adamant to keep returning until the hunts stop, and is delighted to represent her beloved Ric O’Barry, whom she adores. This will be my 13th trip to Taiji. I don’t know how this visit will unfold but we’re steadfast in our dedication to the dolphin trail.”