How Kids Can Help Save the Bonneville Sea Lions

California Sea Lion

CALLING ALL KIDS!  Here is how YOU can help save the sea lions at the Bonneville Dam:

At the Bonneville Dam, California Sea Lions are being killed because they are eating salmon. Fishermen are allowed to catch the salmon, but sea lions aren't. Sea lions who catch too many salmon are killed by state officials. These killings are legal because the states of Oregon and Washington have received permission from the federal government to kill the sea lions. 

PLEASE print out and color in this picture of a California sea lion (or, even better, make your own picture of a California Sea Lion) and send it to the Governors of Oregon and Washington ALONG WITH A MESSAGE ASKING THEM TO STOP KILLING SEA LIONS AT THE BONNEVILLE DAM.

Here are the addresses for the Governors:

The Honorable John Kitzhaber
Governor of Oregon
160 State Capitol
900 Court Street
Salem, Oregon 97301-4047

The Honorable Chris Gregoire
Governor of Washington
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002

Please be sure to take a photo of your picture and share it on our Save Misty the dolphin facebook page before you send it. IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER MAKING A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF YOU DRAWING THE PICTURE AND THEN READING YOUR MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNORS, THAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER!

Thank you so much! YOU are awesome! Ask all of your friends to do the same! Let's all work together to save our friends the sea lions ♥

For your information, here are some helpful background links:
Social media campaign urges kids to help beleaguered sea lions
An Advocate's Guide to the Scapegoated Sea Lions at Bonneville Dam

An Advocate's Guide to the Scapegoated Sea Lions at Bonneville Dam

Bonneville Sea Lion, photo courtesy of the Sea Lion Defense Brigade

Why all of the ruckus about Sea Lions at the Bonneville Dam?
On March 15, 2012, NOAA Fisheries issued a letter authorizing the states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho to use lethal means to remove up to 92 salmon-eating sea lions from the Bonneville Dam.

Following the release of the letter, the Humane Society of the United States filed a lawsuit and sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the killings.  The lawsuit is pending, however a federal judge denied the restraining order.  Judge James Boasberg did rule that 30 sea lions (not 92) can be killed per year and that the method of killing shall be by lethal injection.

Background
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that since 2008, the Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife have removed at least 40 California sea lions from below Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. Ten were placed in zoos and aquaria across the country, 25 were euthanized and five died after they were captured.

The states claim they are removing the sea lions in an effort to protect threatened and endangered populations of salmon and steelhead. The California sea lion is a protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. However, the states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho have been granted permission to remove the sea lions by NOAA –Fisheries, the federal agency responsible for managing marine animals. The authority was granted under Section 120 of the act and allows the states to use lethal and non-lethal (hazing) means to remove individual California sea lions that have been documented eating salmon or steelhead in the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam.

How much fish do the sea lions eat?
According to the NOAA, The proportion of the run consumed by sea lions varies depending on run size. It has generally ranged between 2 and 4% since 2004, but was just 1.6% in 2011.  The Humane Society of the United States reports that fisheries harvest 17% of these same fish.

Which sea lions can be killed?
Only certain sea lions can be killed.  These animals must meet the following criteria:

• Must be individually identifiable through natural or applied features (usually a brand)
• Have been observed eating salmonids in the Bonneville Dam area between Jan. 1 and May 31 of any year
• Have been observed on a total of any five days (consecutive days, days within a single season, or days over multiple years) between Jan. 1 and May 31
• Have been subjected to but not responded to non-lethal hazing (rubber buckshot, firecrackers, noisemakers and other deterrents)

Why the urgency?
The 30 sea lions can be captured and killed at any time now!

What happens when they catch sea lions on their hit list?
According to the Sea Lion Defense Brigade, the traps are visible from the Washington side, but when they catch animals they cover them with tarps, bring around the death barge, and drag them off around the Island - they are still visible then from the Oregon side by the intrepid.

Which are some of the key organizations working to help the Bonneville sea lions?
Humane Society of the United States - For the past several years, the Humane Society has been championing the cause of the Bonneville Sea Lions in court, in congress and with federal and state agencies.  For a complete history of their important work, click on this link:
Bonneville Dam Sea Lions Under Siege: The Humane Society of the United States

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society - Volunteers with Sea Shepherd have visited the Bonneville Dam multiple times since the release of the March 15 letter of authorization.  For more on Sea Shepherd’s position on the Bonneville sea lions & to learn about their "Dam Guardian" campaign, click on this link: Sea Shepherd: Impressions on the Bonneville Dam

Sea Lion Defense Brigade - a grassroots campaign on the ground at the Dam monitoring, recording and reporting on activities impacting the Bonneville Sea Lions.  Please follow them on facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Lion-Defense-Brigade/129414073741048

Save Misty the Dolphins - started the petition to Save the Bonneville Sea Lions, reports on activities impacting them & uses social media to support their cause.  Please follow us on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Savemistythedolphin

How can YOU help the Bonneville Sea Lions?
1. Sign and share the petition at change.org: Director, Office of Protected Resources, NOAA: Don't Kill the Bonneville Sea Lions

2. Contact the Governors of Oregon and Washington state to urge them to stop the senseless killing of the Bonneville Sea Lions:

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber:
phone: (503) 378-4582
email: http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/contact.shtml
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnkitzhaber
twitter: @govkitz

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire:
phone: (360) 902-4111
email: http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/
facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/govgregoire
twitter: @govgregoire

* we have heard from many folks that the Governors' offices are responding to callers with commentary suggesting this is a federal issue.  Please be very clear in your understanding, THE STATES REQUESTED AUTHORIZATION TO USE LETHAL MEANS TO REMOVE THE SEA LIONS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT - NOT VISA-VERSA!

3. Please join the on-the-ground efforts of the Sea Lion Defense Brigade or Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

4. Make a tax-deductible donation to: The Humane Society of the United States and/or Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

5. Tell everyone you know about the scapegoated sea lions of Bonneville Dam.

6. Never be silent - never give up!

Additional background reading:

Scapegoating + Bad Math = Devastation for Federally Protected Sea Lions at the Bonneville Dam

Op-Ed: Two sea lions killed at Bonneville Dam

State officials perplexed by sea lion killings

Please be sure to watch this eye-opening video:

Good News Comes in Twos

We have something very important to say to everyone in the Save Misty the Dolphin Community:

Thank You, Merci, Danke, Mahalo, Tak, Toda, Grazie, Kamsa hamnida, Takk, Gracias, Obrigado, Tack, Arigato

Thank You for showing up...for taking action over and over and over again, for staying positive, for saying lots of prayers, for visualizing blue waters, for supporting one another, for sharing your POWER and for being part of something called a community.  Did you know that as of December 31, 2011, there were more than 37 million facebook pages?  We are GRATEFUL that you choose to be part of ours. 

Our facebook page Save Misty the Dolphin began in the final days of 2010 because two activists - Adam and Alyson - saw an immediate need to do what they could to help a very sick dolphin being held in a small & filthy pool in Taiji. By day three of the campaign, Sandy M. was onboard. Then over the months came Chasity, then Erin, Alan and Sandy Y. It is our honor and privilege to serve the dolphins of Taiji and an incredible community of more than 6,000 friends and activists who walk the walk and talk the talk everyday for the dolphins.

It is not lost on us that you tuned in throughout the 2011-2012 Taiji dolphin hunt and periodically had your heart broken over the senseless loss of life and freedom at the hands of a few heartless men in Taiji.  And yet you never gave up for Jiyu and the hundreds of other dolphins whose lives were stolen.  It is not lost on us that you made thousands of calls, faxes and emails over the course of the last six months.  When Sea Shepherd Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen was arrested on phony charges you really kicked it in...and when he was found INNOCENT we ALL celebrated a major victory for him and for the dolphins of Taiji.

Thank you for NOT spreading racism or hatred and for understanding how very important it is for us to reach out to the people of Japan.  It is our firm belief that if the people of Japan knew about what was happening in the Cove, the bloodshed would come to an end.  Ric O’Barry of Save Japan Dolphins continually reminds us that a Japanese boycott is NOT the answer.  We stand in solid agreement with him on this position.  The one year anniversary of the worst natural disaster in the history of that nation will be upon us in days.  Thousands died, thousands are missing and millions still struggle to bring their lives back together.  The people of Japan need our support -- not a boycott.  We urge you to take some time on March 11th to honor the memory of the victims of the disaster.

In addition to thanking all of YOU, we wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Cove Guardians and the Cove Monitors who served this past season in Taiji - including our very own Chasity Reed.  These folks go to Taiji on their own dime to stand, bear witness and to bring the news back to all of us.  They inspire us every single day.  They are the change.  THEY ARE TRUE HEROES IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.  We urge you to consider going to Taiji as a Cove Guardian or Cove Monitor.  A strong presence on the ground in Taiji is vital to ending the slaughter for good.  To understand the real importance of that presence, please watch this video, "The Economics of Sustained Resistance" from Sea Shepherd Cove Guardian Campaign Coordinator Scott West.

It seems that good news comes in twos:

1. On February 29, after thousands of people worldwide signed our Change.org petition telling Hong Kong Airlines to Stop Profiting from the Misery of the Taiji Dolphins, the Airline issued a statement announcing a ban on all future activities of this nature.  We would like to thank Gary Stokes and volunteers with Sea Shepherd Hong Kong for hand delivering that petition, a copy of The Cove and a letter to Hong Kong Airlines.  We would like to thank the 6,500 people who signed and shared the petition and most importantly, we would like to thank Hong Kong Airlines for doing the right thing.

2. On February 29 (March 1 in Japan) the 2011-2012 Taiji dolphin hunt came to an end!  The first posts coming from the folks on the ground sounded encouraging...from Tim Burns of Save Japan Dolphins came this “Boats appear to be staying in today. We will be watching to see if they change rigging to fish Bonito or not today, and remove the tarps at the cove. We are being told that no more dolphins will be hunted, only pilot whales if they come across any. The Bonita / Tuna grounds are much further offshore than the migratory path of the pilot whale.”  As the hours wore on the updates were more and more definitive.  Sea Shepherd Cove Guardian Melissa Sehgal shared this post “Update from Taiji: We watched as the Taiji butcher house was steam cleaned and the kill floor was removed. The tarps that drape the entrance were also put into storage. Five killing boats removed their banger poles and relocated within the harbor. I believe the process of the hunting season ending is upon us, however there is still many concerns here in Taiji. There are still seven remaining boats with banger poles, the tarps the cover the cove are in tact and pilot whale migrating season is beginning. Cove Guardians will remain here monitoring the killing boats activity. We also will continue to document and film the many captive dolphins that are held prisoner at the three holding facilities. Sea Shepherd remains a strong presence here in Taiji.”  And so, all around the world there were tears...tears of sadness for the dolphins who died and FINALLY tears of joy for those who can migrate safely past Taiji.

PLEASE take some time for yourselves.  YOU earned it.  Find something beautiful to look at every single day.  If we have learned anything from Taiji it is that life is so precious and so fleeting.  Find a way to laugh and spread joy.  It will come back to you tenfold.

...and please stay in touch.  We aren’t going anywhere.  There is much work to do over the coming months.  We hope you will become a part of our “One Call a Day” Campaign. Between now and September 1, 2012 we are simply asking that you make one call a day to your Japanese Embassy: Wake-up, exercise, shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush your teeth and call your Japanese Embassy to ask that they STOP ISSUING PERMITS FOR THE DOLPHIN DRIVE HUNT IN TAIJI. Will you make the commitment? If you are in the US, the number is 202-238-6700. All other nations, please click here to find your Japanese Embassy. Plug the number into your cellphone. One call a day...

Please be sure to check-in with us on facebook at Save Misty the Dolphin.  We will continue to post all updates and action items right there on the page...plus we like seeing YOU!

Never be silent and never give up until the last one is free and the Cove is blue forever.

May 2012 be the Year of Peace in The Cove

Yesterday, Cove Guardian Andy filmed what we thought to be an empty pool with water so still that it was collecting algae. When the footage was reviewed back at the hotel, we were all shocked to learn that there actually was a dolphin in that tank. More footage was taken and it is now clear that this dolphin is floating all alone in a dirty tank. There is no pump in the pool making the water near stagnant, with green algae ringing the waterline.  --Sea Shepherd Report from Taiji, December 30, 2010

These are the words that literally galvanized a movement just one year ago.  The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) Cove Guardian team on the ground captured footage of a sick dolphin that the world would soon come to know as “Misty”.  Sick and isolated in a small above ground pool, Misty clung to a yellow buoy and floated listlessly.

Within hours the facebook community “Save Misty the Dolphin” was born and thousands of concerned citizens across the world began a non-stop campaign of calling, faxing and e-mailing Taiji’s Dolphin Base seeking better conditions and medical treatment for the sick dolphin.

...and within days...Misty was moved to a cleaner, larger tank where he was able to recover from a lung infection.

In the following weeks, our community evolved.  We continued to work in collaboration with volunteers on the ground to bring you breaking news from Taiji and to encourage you to take action.  Like you, we watched in horror as the disaster of March 11, 2011 hit Japan.  We held our breath waiting for word about survivors.  Our prayers were answered when we learned that the volunteers from SSCS and Save Japan Dolphins (SJD) survived the earthquake and tsunami.  At the same time, we were devastated for a nation that lost thousands of innocents - all in a matter of minutes.  

Throughout the Spring and Summer of 2011 we continued to build our social media campaign; adding a blog, a Twitter account and a monthly Positive Experience Radio Show.  In anticipation of the start of the 2011-2012 dolphin drive hunt in Taiji, we rolled out the Countdown to the Cove website and worked collaboratively with Save Japan Dolphins and a team of dedicated volunteers worldwide to coordinate Peaceful Protests in 31 cities & 12 nations on September 1, 2011.  

Over time, we have evolved a “positive” approach.  We feel strongly that solving the crisis of The Cove will ultimately involve a partnership with the people of Japan, many of whom have no idea about the atrocities of Taiji.  Like Ric O’Barry, we do not support a Japanese Boycott.  We will continue to extend a warm arm of friendship to those who share this point of view.


At the start of the New Year, our thoughts remain with incarcerated SSCS Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen and his family.  We will persist in calling upon the leaders of the nation of Japan to right this injustice until he is released.

We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Save Japan Dolphins, and every single one of their volunteers on the ground for their commitment to the Taiji dolphins and for allowing us to help spread their messages.  We encourage you to support these organizations with tax-deductible contributions AND by joining their volunteers on the ground in Taiji.  More importantly, we remain steadfastly grateful to each and every single one of YOU for everything you do as a part of the Save Misty the Dolphin Community.  It is now, and will continue to be, our belief that we are only as good as the people we work with.  We think YOU are the best group of advocates in the world!

Best wishes for a fantastic New Year.  May 2012 bring PEACE to The Cove & vulnerable marine mammals worldwide.

--Adam, Alyson, Chasity, Erin & Sandy

URGENT CALL TO ACTION - HELP SAVE JIYU (FREEDOM) THE SICK DOLPHIN AT TAIJI DOLPHIN BASE

Sick Dolphin Spyhopping Nonstop at Dolphin Base
via Rosie Kunneke of Sea Shepherd

September 30, 2011 Update

The sick dolphin remains in the seapens at Dolphin Base.  He (or she) has been nicknamed "Jiyu" which means FREEDOM in Japanese by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Cove Guardian Rosie Kunneke.  PLEASE HELP SAVE JIYU!

September 26, 2011 -

Almost nine months to the day that Cove Guardians from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society discovered Misty the Dolphin in his filth-ridden backyard pool, another sick dolphin has been identified at Dolphin Base in Taiji, Japan.

According to Cove Guardian Rosie Kunneke with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society:


The afternoon after typhoon Roke has passed, I checked in on all the dolphins in their holding pens at the Dolphin Resort, and thankfully, all had survived the typhoon. At the holding pens, I witnessed the trainers tubefeed a dolphin who was perhaps too ill or dispirited to perform degrading tricks for his meals. I went back daily to check on this specific dolphin and over the next two days, I started to notice repetive neurotic behavior displayed by this sick and obviously unhappy dolphin that struck me as unusual. This dolphin was spyhopping non-stop throughout the entire day, probably induced by feelings of intense claustrophobia in the small pen. This repetitive behavior caused open sores on his tail from repeatedly slamming against the bottom net. The trainers treated his tail with injections and antiseptic spray.

After making numerous requests to the Dolphin Resort staff to help the sickly dolphin, the trainers are denying the dolphin is suffering to the police. We are calling on passionate people to contact Dolphin Resort to request bigger and better living conditions, qualified veterinary treatment, and even release with rehabilitation assistance for this dolphin before its too late. Dolphin Resort needs to see that people are concerned for the well being of each and every captive dolphin in their pens.

Email: info@dolphinbase.co.jp or info@dolphinresort.jp
How to Call Taiji, Japan from the United States:
Phone: 81-73-559-3514
Fax: 81-73-559-281

For the full report from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, click here.

THE TEAM AT SAVE MISTY THE DOLPHIN JOINS SEA SHEPHERD IN ISSUING AN URGENT CALL TO ACTION ON BEHALF OF THIS SICK DOLPHIN.  WE DID IT FOR MISTY ~ WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.  PLEASE HIT THE PHONES, FAXES, E-MAILS & DO WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD.  

Via Steven Thompson "Email Dolphin Base: Please care for the sick dolphins."
Here is that phrase in Japanese: 病気のイルカの世話をしてください。あなたに感謝。

We are an international army of compassionate people working together with one goal---to end the inhumane hunting, confinement and slaughter of marine mammals. This is our goal- This is our commitment- This is our passion. Won’t you please join us? 


“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -- Margaret Mead


For realtime updates on ways you can help this and other vulnerable dolphins - follow us on facebook.

Thank you!

The Other Side of the Dolphin Tale

As Winter's Tale hits the Silver Screen, Misty remains alone in Taiji

In December 2005, fisherman Jim Savage rescued a young dolphin entangled in a crab pot off the Canaveral National Shoreline in Florida.  The two-month old dolphin was critically injured while trying to free herself.  Savage freed the dolphin from the trap’s synthetic lines, but her injuries were far too serious to set her free. The animal was transported to Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA); a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the oceans via rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine life. Despite every effort on the part of CMA staff, the dolphin, soon to be known as “Winter” lost her injured tail and several vertebrae. 

With constant care from CMA staff, Winter adapted and was able to swim without her flukes; however, CMA recognized that the dolphin needed a tail for long term survival.  Kevin Carroll, a world famous prosthetist, heard Winter's story and offered to create a prosthetic tail. Carroll and fellow prosthetist Dan Strzempka worked for over a year to build the appendage.  Not every human adapts successfully to a prosthetic. So what about a dolphin? Winter quickly adapted to her new silicone prosthetic tail, making her the first dolphin in history to wear a prosthetic!  However, because of the device, she can never be released back into the ocean.

On September 23, the story of Winter will make its way to the Silver Screen courtesy of Warner Bros studios. Dolphin Tale features a star-studded cast including Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr., Kris Kristofferson and Nathan Gamble.  The role of Winter is played by none other than the rescued dolphin.  

While CMA has gone to heroic lengths to rehabilitate Winter, the fact remains that this dolphin, like thousands of others worldwide, is held in a tiny pool, has to work for a living, exists on a diet of dead fish and has no hope of ever seeing the ocean again. Winter spent long hours under hot lights filming “Dolphin Tale”.  In general, the lives of captive dolphins are much shorter than their counterparts in the wild.  As well-intended as CMA might be, a pool can never replace the ocean.  Dolphins in captivity face ongoing stress caused by crowds of people and from being on constant display.  One might hope that with all her earnings, CMA would provide Winter a real sanctuary somewhere on the coastline where she could feel the natural ocean rhythm again and escape from thousands of watchful eyes - rather than exploiting her as a tourist attraction.

In 2009, a documentary about dolphins won an Academy Award.  Directed by Louie Psihoyos and starring Ric O’Barry, The Cove tells the tragic story of thousands of dolphins who are hunted by the fishing fleet of Taiji, Japan, and either slaughtered for meat or sold into captivity.   Pods of dolphins are literally chased into a tiny cove where they await selection by trainers who then determine who shall live and who shall die.  Those selected for captivity are moved into pens where their indoctrination into captivity begins.  Over in the cove, the water turns from azure blue to blood red as the rest are slowly bludgeoned to death.

While Winter the Dolphin gets the celebrity treatment in honor of the movie release, across the world another captive dolphin by the name of “Misty” is believed to be held in isolation in a squalid pool at the Taiji, Japan Dolphin Base Resort.  Misty was originally discovered in December 2010 by activists who were on the ground in Taiji to protest the slaughter and captivity of dolphins in the Cove.  The animal was floating listlessly in a filthy backyard pool, just hours from death.  Isolated due to a lung infection, Misty clung to a yellow buoy, the bottom of his shallow pool littered with rotting fish.  Within hours the social media group “Save Misty the Dolphin” was formed on Facebook, and over the course of just a few days, thousands of calls were logged to Dolphin Base demanding better care for the sickly animal.  In the early days of January, Misty was moved to a bigger, cleaner pool at Dolphin Base, but for months now advocates and concerned citizens have been prevented from accessing the lone dolphin in order to verify his health status and conditions of confinement.

The science on dolphin intelligence is definitive as researchers increasingly call for them to be considered as “non-human persons”.  “In particular, the highly elaborated cingulate and insular cortex in cetacean brains are consistent with the idea that these animals are highly sophisticated and sensitive in the emotional and social emotional sophistication not achieved by other animals including humans” (Phil Brakes, and Mark Peter Simons, Whales and Dolphins Cognition, Culture, Conservation and Human Perception, Washington D.C,, Earthspan, 2011). Will Winter’s story enable people to accept dolphin intelligence and dolphin rights in non-human persons' status or will Dolphin Tale have the opposite effect; driving more customers through the doors of SeaWorld and other captive facilities where healthy dolphins, that could be living at home in the oceans with their families are instead imprisoned in small cement tanks far from family and the sounds of the ocean? 

As we see in the 2011 documentary  A Fall from Freedom, captivity is deadly for marine mammals. Dolphins live in captivity just a fraction of a typical life span. There is a clear link between drive fisheries, SeaWorld and other marine aquariums. When Iki island in Japan ended their drive fishery because of worldwide outcry, SeaWorld convinced them to continue. Just as trainers arrive these days in Taiji, Japan to select dolphins for captivity, notorious dolphin trafficker Jay Sweeney would arrive in Iki to pick the most attractive.  The remaining pod, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, would be killed. Today no dolphins swim off the shores off Iki island. The pods native to the area are gone forever. In A fall from freedom we see Jay Sweeney, a founder of the International Marine Mammals Trainers Association, selecting dolphins and orcas during violent captures. The captive animals are shipped to aquariums all over the world. Very few captured marine mammals live more than a few years. Lolita, at the Miami Seaquarium, is one exception. For over forty years she has been confined to a tiny pool, where she performs seven days a week.  Concerned citizens have requested again and again that Lolita be released. Advocates have located Lolita’s family and offered to return her to the ocean covering all costs, but the aquarium has refused. Lolita, like Winter, is a box office success that continues to bring dollars into the aquarium.

Dolphin Tale, A Fall From Freedom, and The Cove have one commonality and that is they all compel us as humans to consider the concept of dolphins as individuals, as non-human persons. Winter overcame extraordinary obstacles many amputees never do to successfully manipulate an artificial limb. Each day more stories are told in the news of dolphins rescuing humans, and attempting to communicate with humans. If we could talk to Winter, what would she say? It is likely she would first thank her family at CMA. There is no doubt they love her like family. Might she go on to ask us to remember other dolphins of the world, those being impacted by pollution, those dying in fish nets and lines, and those being driven into the bloody Cove of Taiji, Japan, where prison or death waits? Hopefully the release of a Dolphin Tale will make the world sensitive to the tragic plight of marine mammals in captivity.  Dolphins have so much to teach us. These are the people of the sea, and what we see in their eyes may be a reflection of our own.

Who Do You Think You Are?

AP Photo of Taiji dolphin hunters and their prey

As the days leading to September 1 dwindle down to a mere handful, the thoughts of caring people the world over turn to a small coastal village in the southern portion of Japan.  Taiji, made famous by the Academy-award winning documentary, The Cove, is ground zero for the annual slaughter of hundreds to thousands of dolphins.  

The footage in the youtube video, Who Do You Think You Are? is straight from Taiji.

The numbers of the Taiji dolphin hunters are small -- less than 30.  Yet, armed with high-tech equipment, they are able to round-up and drive large pods of dolphins from their peaceful migration route in the Pacific Ocean into the shallow waters of the killing cove.  Most of the dolphins who are trapped in the cove will face a bloody death.  A small percentage will escape the spear only to face a lonely life as a performer in a dolphin show.  Dolphin trainers literally come into the Cove and hand pick dolphins to be trained.  From September 2010 to March 2011, 850 dolphins were killed in the Cove.  Another 171 were sold into slavery.

During the 2010-2011 hunt, activists were in Taiji throughout the season.  Their powerful videos and photos graphically depicted the shocking brutality of the Cove.  This year, the dolphin hunters will be supported by enhanced police and coast guard protection.

Now, more than ever, the dolphins of Taiji need YOUR support.  Please become a part of the international movement to stop the slaughter once and for all.  YOU can make a difference.  Here is how:

1. Watch The Cove movie & share it with a friend.  Become a part of the world’s largest home screening of The Cove on September 1 by signing-up at:  
Worldwide Screening of the Cove Movie on September 1, 2011
2. Join in a peaceful protest or rally at Japanese Embassies & Consulates around the world on September 1 as part of the International Day of Awareness for the Dolphins of Taiji 
3. Sign and share our Petition
4. Call your Japanese Embassy and tell them to STOP the Taiji dolphin slaughter today:

In the United States call:  202-238-6700

In the United Kingdom call:  020-7465-6500

In Canada call: 613-241-8541

In Australia call: 61-2-6273-3244 

In France call: 01-48-88-62-00

In Germany call: 030-21094-0

In Italy call:  39-06-487-991

In Norway call: 47-22-99-16-00

In New Zealand call: 04-473-1540

Contact information for all other countries can be found here: 

List of Japanese Embassies Worldwide

Misty, as discovered in his filthy pool at Dolphin Base, Taiji, Japan

Save Misty the Dolphin is a social media campaign committed to ending the slaughter and captivity of vulnerable marine mammals in Taiji and worldwide.  Please visit our webpage: www.countdowntocove.com and follow us on facebook at Save Misty the Dolphin.  We will bring you all of the latest news and breaking developments in the fight to save the dolphins of Taiji.

It has been said that one person, giving all of their time to peace, makes news. Many people, giving some of their time, can make history.  Let’s make history together.  The water of the Taiji cove needs to stay blue - now and forever.  YOU can help make that happen.