Consequences of the Taiji Dolphin Roundup Reach Egypt

Thanks to the efforts of Ric O’Barry and the Oscar-winning filmmakers of The Cove, people around the world are aware of the brutal dolphin slaughter occurring regularly in Taiji, Japan, where dolphins are rounded up by the hundreds, and the ones deemed undesirable for marine park conscription are butchered alive and sold to unsuspecting Japanese consumers for meat.

But as it turns out, the global consequences of the Taiji roundup have reached a previously unknown destination: Egypt.

In September, news broke that four bottlenose dolphins were being kept in a pool in a private villa in Hurghada.

A pool.

The dolphins, who easily measure nine feet in length, have been living in a pool thirty feet wide and about thirteen feet deep.

Are you nauseated yet? If not, keep reading.

The condition of the water is reported to be so far beyond substandard as to be dangerous—the dolphins have evidenced eye damage because of it. And if you were wondering where these lucky animals were captured from, you win if you guessed Taiji.

Ric O'Barry has chronicled the journey of the Taiji Four, and has documented their abysmal conditions on his blog. They are tagged for eventual transfer to the Sharm El Sheik dolphinarium once the 105-day quarantine period passes. If, of course, the dolphins survive that long.

And soon, four new captives of the cruel and profitable Taiji roundups are slated for shipment to Egypt, to rot in tanks at the new Makadi Bay, Hurghada dolphinarium.  Presumably to educate future generations about how cruelly our species behaves towards animals we profess to want to protect. Because what other purpose could capturing wild animals and forcing them to live in tiny, cement, chlorinated fish bowls serve?

The practice of capturing wild marine mammals and conscripting them into a life of idleness for our entertainment is sick, sad, educates no one and hurts many. So tell the Egyptian government that you want this cruelty to stop.

Photo credit: Dominic's Pics