If Dolphins are so smart, why don't they just jump over the nets?
Dolphins and other whales normally live without borders. Walls and nets are alien and confusing to them. They panic when they come in contact with these foreign obstacles. Even though they physically could jump over the nets, they play it safe and just stay away from them.
Is the capture industry part of the "Tradition"?
Yes. The dolphin captivity industry is supporting the annual dolphin slaughter. Some facilities support it by rewarding the Japanese dolphin hunters for their bad behavior, other facilities support it with their silence. They also support it by refusing to police their own industry.
What "science" is obtained from the dolphin capture/ slaughter?
None.
If we eat cows and pigs, why can't the Japanese eat dolphins?
The Japanese people do eat cows and pigs. If these same cows and pigs were as contaminated with mercury as the dolphins, they would stop eating them. The Japanese public who have become aware of the danger have stopped buying dolphin meat.
Who profits from Taiji selling dolphins into captivity? The fishermen, the town, the government?
All of the above. The Taiji fisherman sell the dolphins to the Taiji Whale Museum for a profit. The Museum -- including Dr. Ted Hammond, the dolphin dealer -- sell the dolphins to international captive facilities for a profit. The local government owns the Taiji Whale Museum.
How much do they make from the dolphin trade?
We know that some Taiji dolphins have been sold for $28,000. Others were sold for $154,000. The dolphins are sold for whatever the dolphin dealers can get for them.
Are swim with dolphin programs valuable tools for educating the public about dolphins, whales and our oceans?
No. There are swim with dolphin programs in Taiji. These same dolphin swim programs are in business with the dolphin hunters. Japan has 50 captive facilities, most of them have obtained their dolphins from the dolphin drive. The popularity of the captive dolphin swim programs work against the dolphins by creating a demand for more and more dolphins to swim with.
How much money is generated from worldwide swim-with-the-dolphin programs and dolphin shows?
It's a two billion dollar a year industry in the USA alone. Nobody knows for sure how much money is generated on an international scale.
Is it OK to swim with dolphins and whales in the wild if you don't touch them?
It's best to leave the dolphins alone.
