There was much media coverage in April of the decision by the World Association for Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) to suspend its Japanese affiliate, JAZA, because of concerns over animal cruelty due to the sourcing of captive dolphins from the infamous drive hunts in Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture.
But another, less reported event took place that month that could also have major consequences for the captive-dolphin export market in Taiji. From April 21 to 28, Dolphin Project founder Ric O'Barry and Swiss journalist Hans Roth toured Chinese cities to promote a book they had co-authored, translated by the Zhonghua Book Co., about Taiji and the captive dolphin trade. Like the Academy Award-winning documentary O'Barry narrated in 2009, its title is "The Cove."
O'Barry, whose journey from dolphin trainer for the 1960s U.S. TV series "Flipper" to activist is recounted in the film, told me about his reasons for promoting the book in China.