Australians join battle to stop brutal dolphin slaughter in Japan
The activists are alleging the prefecture's governor misused his authority by issuing a hunting permit to fishermen they argue violate animal welfare law.
JAKE STURMER: ‘With dolphin-hunting season in full swing in Japan, Australian and Japanese environmentalists have launched legal action to try to end the internationally condemned slaughters in Taiji… Every year Japanese fishermen have permission to kill up to 20,000 dolphins and small whales as part of what they say are centuries-old traditions. Australian environmental group Action for Dolphins has teamed up with a Japanese animal rights organisation, Life Investigation Agency, to challenge the legality of the killings. Under Japanese law, animals are protected as living beings, and “no person shall kill, injure, or inflict cruelty on animals without reason”.
The activists have argued that the method used by the fishermen to kill the dolphins, which involves driving a metal rod into their spine and inserting a wooden plug into their open wound to limit the bleeding, is inhumane. They say that because the dolphins are herded and trapped in the cove, they become “protected mammals” and their treatment consequently breaches the animal welfare laws. The activists are alleging the prefecture’s governor misused his authority by issuing a hunting permit to fishermen they argue violate the law…
Right now the hunts are underway, with environmental activist groups like Sea Shepherd trying to monitor the movements of the fishermen. A lookout near the cove is as close as they can get, and local police are closely watching the activists’ movements to make sure they don not try to intervene or trespass. Sarah Lucas, CEO of Action for Dolphins, said she hoped the legal action would put an end to the hunt, as international pressure from celebrities and activists had failed to stop the practice. She said it was significant there was a Japanese plaintiff and animal rights organisation behind the case’. SOURCE…
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