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Whale and Dolphin Conservation partners with local artist for art auction

PLYMOUTH, MA - Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) has partnered with local artist Erik Simmons...
dolphin FB Fundraiser

e.l.f. Cosmetics announces new “porpoise-ful” initiative to benefit Whale and Dolphin Conservation

For Immediate Release, March 16, 2023 OAKLAND, CA - On the fins of its first...

Kiska the ‘world’s loneliest whale’ dies at Canadian theme park

Kiska, dubbed the loneliest whale in the world, has died at Marineland, a zoo and...
Grey seal is released from the kennel on the ocean side of Duxbury Beach

Why did the seal cross the road? WDC responds to a grey seal near Gurnet Point in Plymouth, MA

Grey seal is released from the kennel on the ocean side of Duxbury Beach For...

Taiji Whale Museum resigns from aquaria body over dolphin hunt ban

The Taiji Whale Museum has left the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) after it failed to comply with new rules preventing members from obtaining dolphins from the infamous drive hunts that take part in the village.

The drive hunt season started on Sept. 1st and the Museum, which has a dolphinarium, has already placed an order for dolphins with fishermen. JAZA changed its membership rules earlier this year after being told it could no longer be a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) unless its members stopped obtaining dolphins from the hunt.

Unfortunately, while members of JAZA will no longer be able to obtain dolphins from Taiji, by resigning the museum will now join several other marine parks in Japan that can continue to do so.

The Japanese government has set a quote of 1873 dolphins in Taiji this year. Last year, around 80 dolphins were taken into captivity from the hunts to be supplied to aquaria in Japan and other parts of the world.

Find out more about the dolphin drive hunts.

Please support our campaign to stop airlines transporting dolphins to marine parks.

Taji drive hunt