Dolphin Drive Hunting

You may be surprised to know that the dolphin brain is actually much larger than that of a human. Dolphins have two hemispheres in the brain just like humans, however, theirs are split into four lobes instead of three. The fourth lobe in the dolphin's brain actually hosts all of the senses, whereas in a human, the senses are split. Some believe that having all of the senses in one lobe allow the dolphin to make immediate and often complicated judgments that are well beyond the scope of a human ability. When studying the neo-cortex, which is the outside surface of the brain that is responsible for forming perceptions, memories and thoughts, dolphins have more convolution than the most intelligent humans. But if you were to ask two scientists whether or not the intelligence of a dolphin exceeds that of a human you would most likely get two different answers and an endless debate. Does it surprise you that most of man kind would deny the fact that an animal could overcome the intelligence of "the greatest species to walk the earth"? It doesn't surprise me.

But what does surprise me is not only the fact that so many dolphins are slaughtered each year, but also the methods used to kill these amazing creatures.
"Drive hunting" is a form of hunting in which the dolphins (hundreds at a time) are forced into a large cove or bay, to which they have no form of escape. They are then beaten with wooden clubs and stabbed with knives over the side of small fishing boats for their meat to be sold to the local markets. In some cases bystanders watch in horror, their hearts breaking as the once clear waters take the deep red of these peoples victims.

The documentary "The Cove" describes the annual killing of dolphins in a Quasi-National Park atTaiji, Wakayama, in Japan from an ocean conservationist's point of view. This film goes into depth on the situation that is desperately trying to be kept secret from the public (as most of Japan was unaware of the happenings when asked about it). Rick O'Barry (former dolphin trainer for movies such as "Flipper" -1964) conducts the quest for justice for these animals and to raise awareness of the situation after one of the dolphins he worked with committed a form of suicide in his arms by closing her blowhole voluntarily in order to suffocate. O'Barry came to see the dolphin's captivity as a curse, not a blessing. Days later, he was arrested off the island of Binimi, attempting to cut a hole in the sea pen in order to set free a captured dolphin Not only were Rick and his team arrested and interrogated by the police upon arrival in Wakayama, but were forced to install hidden cameras at night to capture the footage. This is an incredible film starring incredible people who want to make a difference. I highly recommend it. 



People in Japan tried very hard to keep their secret from being exposed. So even though it may be hard to do anything from here when it's happening in Japan, if we put enough pressure on them, something will be done. But if no one knows about this horrific act, then they go on making their profit without the slightest bit of trouble.