A Look Into "The Cove": An Eco-Documentary On The Dolphin Slaughter of Taiji, Japan (VIDEO, POLL)

Directed by National Geographic photographer Louis Psihoyos and produced by the Oceanic Preservation Society, The Cove chronicles expert dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry's quest to end the senseless slaughter of 23,000 dolphins annually in the coastal village of Taiji, Japan.

This eco-documentary employs the skills of an undercover SWAT team by using hidden microphones and disguised cameras to capture the inhumane dolphin massacre that takes place in the secluded Japanese cove. Taking on the tone of a spy movie, the filmmakers used investigative filmmaking to expose the cruel butchering practices. Additionally, the cameras captured the Japanese government's hazardous disregard for public health through the marketing of the dolphin meat, which contains toxic levels of mercury, as whale meat in supermarkets throughout Japan. The Japanese government has also issued a moratorium to censor the media about the whaling issue. The Cove won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.

An outpouring of celebrity support has sprouted from Hayden Panettiere who ventured to Taiji to protest the slaughter,Ben Stiller who introduced the film at the Hollywood premiere, Pierce Brosnan who blogged about the impact of the movie, and George Lucas' Industrial Lights & Magic which invented fake rocks in order to disguise film cameras in the ocean.

Treehugger's Roberta Cruger provides monetary estimations about the brutal dolphin slaughter of Taiji.

Primo bottlenose dolphins fetch $150,000 for sea parks and the dead dolphins garner $600 a piece. By my calculations it's a $15 million business, minimum. That's based on an estimate of selling a dozen dolphins to seaquariums around the world with the remaining 22,898 killed in a primitive and cruel way, which leads me to believe these 26 fisherman aren't earning the lionshare of the income.

NRDC's Joel Reynolds explains the history of the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) failure to prohibit the massacres.

Although the IWC banned whaling in 1986, Japan still kills almost 1,000 great whales each year under the guise of "scientific research" as well as an additional 23,000 dolphins and porpoises every year. Unfortunately, the IWC provides no protection for small marine mammals like the dolphins slaughtered at Taiji.

Watch the trailer below.

Watch an interview with director-activist Louis Psihoyos below.

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The movie will be released on August 7th. It is currently playing at select theaters in New York and Los Angeles. Find a theater near you.

Oceanic Preservation Society, The Cove's website offers an interactive subsite for fans to become involved in the fight for the protection of the Taiji dolphins.

Quick Poll

Will You See "The Cove"?

Definitely, I've already jumped on the boat!

Maybe, I'm still treading water about the dolphin crisis.

No, I prefer to stay on land.

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Comments

[TJCole]

Sometimes I really hate the human race...we're a failed species...undeserving of all the great bounty God has provided for us...

[jwlyons]

I've heard nothing but amazing reviews about this movie. I like to think that I'm pretty up to date on what's going on in the animal rights world, and I really had no idea about this practice. It's pretty shocking, I'd like to think that as more people become aware of what is actually going on practices like these will soon die out.

I hope that the movie gains a wider distribution - the nearest cinema to me playing it is several hours away!

[Tex1969]

This will be very difficult to watch as was Food Inc. but whatever I can do to support the cause.

[RightWingMarine]

why should dolphins be spared from our dinner plates but not other sea kittens? If you don't like dolphins being harvested for food then don't eat them.

[Alarmist]

I hate seeing animals being hurt, but it's a movie that has to be watched.

[bored2tears]

I'll buy a ticket ... and give support to groups trying to end this barbarity ... but, having seen video of dolphin slaughter years ago, could never bring myself to actually go in and see the movie.

[Carol Snow]

Great story. NPR covered it last week.

[sayrock]

I'm glad that this film was made because it will raise awareness and hopefully stop this practice. But the thing that does disturb me, is that the filmmakers portray themselves as the first to discover this disgraceful practice and the first to try to stop it. That is patently false. Back in the early 90s I was webmaster for Hardy Jones of BlueVoice.org, a non-profit co-founded with Ted Danson. Hardy put his life on the line more than once filming what takes place in Taiji. He's worked tirelessly for decades, and his work was featured in a PBS special narrated by Matt Damon, among other documentaries.

I understand that the filmmakers did meet and interview Hardy, but it's too bad they didn't give credit were credit is definitely due! You can find more about Hardy's work at www.bluevoice.org

[lungfish]

Just a few words of support... I make my living teaching freediving in Kona, HI and often have the opportunity to swim and dive with dolphins. It is remarkable and wonderful and I could not, ever, imagine intentionally harming these beings. Never mind the biggest excuse, killing for food, is lame because dolphins are not safe to eat. Period.

I have had some incredible freediving experiences with dolphins and I encourage everyone to find a chance to swim in the sea and learn something about it beyond fear-based nonsense. Sharks deserve the same protections and the same concerns as dolphins.... everbluefreediving.com if anyone is interested....

Yes, I will watch this and be haunted by it.... Japan should be shamed for their denial and disrespect. This isn't a cultural issue, it isn't a national treasure... its dangerous, the meat is poison and the government is in denial. Most Japanese don't even know this is happening.

[iblogleft]

They should make kids in school watch this.

[Merrimack]

How is this any worse or different than what goes on daily at a Pig Farm, Cow Farm or at PETA's animal sites where they kill thousands of unwanted animals? Given the prevalence of dolphins and porpoises around the globe I am not going to lose any sleep over this. I just want to know how they taste.

[doodlebug2]

I find it shocking. When I see people try to help stranded whales and then hear about this cove, I am baffled. I volunteer at a sea animal rescue center and the people try so hard to save seals, sea turts, and dolphins and other critters that I am become saddened at the other extreme. At least a few care.

[QueenCeleste]

It will be very, very hard to watch this movie. I may sit in the theatre with my eyes half shut, but it is essential those of us--no matter how squeamish--concerned about the slaughter support the film. My hat is off to the director, and all involved in documenting the atrocity.

Thirty years ago I set up a little table at my college with petitions protesting Japan's slaughter of whales. Just before packing up to go, an older Japanese man looking slightly agitated approached the table. I braced myself for a possible debate. "Japan kill too much!" That was all he said, and he repeated it several times. If only more Japanese people shared his view.

[TigersEye]

This is truly sickening. I hope that enough of an outcry is raised that something will be done. Dolphins are intelligent creatures, what these people are doing (and others who senselessly slaugh.ter them) is horrifying. Anyone who does this kind of thing has something inherently wrong with them and I'm dis.gusted that I am forced to share the planet with these monsters.

[camper320]

I saw footage from Taiji online before this film was made. It was horrifying and shocking. This is the first I've heard of this film and I am thankful it was made. I will absolutely see it. What is wrong with these people that they do this for money? It's like the "men" who club baby seals to death. They are missing something that makes the rest of us human. I guess we all need to also realize that dolphins are not for entertainment. It is not natural for them to do tricks for us. We've realized now that they are sensient, it's time to act on that knowledge and stop trying to swim with them.