If you could not speak would that mean you have nothing important to say? If you could not walk would that mean you have no where to go? If you were the smallest of your kind would you not matter? That's what advocates for lives of the animals in captivity are trying to fight for.
For freedom, and life.
Every September, from as early as the year 2003, has recorded a large decrease in Dolphins. This is specifically true in a small town with a big secret called Tiaji, Japan. Dolphins are one of the smallest species in the whale animals group, often disregarded because of their size and friendliness. The story of our Dolphin friends started way before some of you 90's baby were even born.
The activist that started this line of yearning for dolphins as friends is also the one trying to stop it. Rick O'Barry is a man who decided to undo his wrongs by trying to save and free those in captivity all at the cost of his own freedom, resulting in incarceration. Back in 1964 Rick O'Barry captured his first dolphin. Six years later his best friend Flipper, who was captured for the show, died in his arms. That same year he became an activist for animals in the industry he once worked for.
Decades later, Rick hears about the slaughter that happens every year at the cove in Tiaji, Japan. He captures the attention of the Oceanic Preservation Society that have the film equipment and people that care as much as Rick does about the cause. Successfully capturing footage of the slaughter and making a movie about it to get the attention about what's going on, The Cove hits the big screen and captures more attention than Rick could ever dream of. The film won many awards and at the Oscars premier of it Rick held a sign that was a call to action to stop the madness.
The slaughter still continues every year, killing these beautiful creatures by the thousands, and reportedly 20,000 are wiped out each year. Their meat is sold as "rare whale meat." The problem is that it contains high levels of mercury which are lethal to humans. Because they're "mislabeled," people will experience the effects later on in the next generation by having deformed or very sick children. At one point they were giving the kids of Tiaji free lunch meat containing dolphin. With its high levels of mercury, it can potentially poison the young who consume it.
You may ask yourself what's so wrong about wanting to swim with such a smiley and friendly marine creature. It works as cause and effect. The cause: there is a need for Dolphins and the Swim with Dolphin programs are in great demand. The effect: because of the demand many dolphins are captured, either to be sold or killed, and made to be in permanent captivity. If you want to be part of the change you have to do the work that comes with it. If you want to stop the harm these creatures can experience you can stop going to aquariums and/or Swim with Dolphins resorts.
For more information on what you can do to help go to www.takepart.com or watch The Cove.
