Japan: Dolphins & Whales

I have been searching out more information on the Japanese slaughter of whales, and have found they are also slaughtering dolphins. There is another website devoted to saving the Japanese dolphins, http://www.savejapandolphins.org/  It is headed by Ric O' Barry, who has produced a documentary called The Cove, for the Animal Planet Channel. It won the feature documentary Oscar this year. It seems there will also be a television series on Animal Planet called Blood Dolphins, by Ric O'Barry.

Ric O'Barry began working with Dolphins in the 1960's. He was the trainer for the dolphins in the television show Flipper. He was so moved when one of them died in his arms, from an apparent suicide, that he has fought to keep the dolphins free ever since. The cove he documented in Japan is where 23,000 dolphins are killed every year.

Wikipedia also has a good article on the Japanese killing of whales and dolphins, giving both sides of the situation. The argument seems to be based on whether whales and dolphins are still endangered. I find it very sad that more consideration is not given to the intelligence of these creatures. Endangered or not....