Prince William – Please Ask Japan to Stop the Taiji Dolphin Death Drives

Dear Prince William

We the undersigned respectfully ask you to raise the issue of the controversial ‘dolphin death drives’ at Taiji with the Japanese Government when you visit the country in February.

Ordinary people around the world, in increasing numbers, are left shocked every year by the actions of the fisherman at Taiji who drive hundreds of dolphins into the infamous ‘Cove’. Many of the dolphins are slaughtered by having a metal stick forced into their blowhole. Many others are captured and sold to dolphinariums around the world.

Dolphins are known to be intelligent and social creatures. They live in families, and have individual identities. We know too much now about them to let these atrocities continue, as the actions of these few fishermen are a bloody stain on the whole of mankind.

We understand that many of the dolphins are used for meat, but levels of mercury in their bodies mean that eating them is not healthy, and something people should be warned about.

We also understand that a ring of protection has been thrown around the dolphin drives in an effort to defend them as a cultural practice. This, however, is clearly just an excuse. Culture can never be used to justify horrendous animal cruelty. And there is nothing cultural about capturing dolphins and sending them to appear in dolphin shows. The only motivation is profit.

This letter is not an attack on Japan nor its people. We all understand that every country has its flaws and its problems.

The dolphin drives at Taiji, though, shame a great nation. People around the world look on in despair and wonder why they continue.

Prince William, please use your influence to discuss this with the Japanese Government, help them see that no good comes from the Taiji dolphin drives, and only good can come from banning them.