Marineland petitioners wrong, says activist

Animal activist group World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has lambasted the 13,588 people who signed a petition to replace the iconic dolphins at Napier's Marineland.

WSPA spokeswoman Bridget Vercoe says people should instead be taking a stand against Japan's annual slaughter of dolphins and small whales.

"This method of hunting dolphins involves driving pods of dolphins into bays and coves to be cruelly and violently butchered. The meat from these dolphins is then sold in local markets for human consumption.

"Some dolphins driven into these coves are spared the violent death, but unfortunately an equally cruel fate awaits them - a lifetime in captivity.

"Unscrupulous dolphinariums financially support the hunts by buying live dolphins - usually young females - from the fishermen to be used for captive display.

"These animals witness the screaming slaughter of their close family group in a sea turned red with blood, before being transported off to live the rest of their lives confined in pools as entertainment.

"So many dolphins die in captivity and the breeding programmes can't keep up, so dolphinariums frequently have to purchase dolphins caught from the wild," she said.

Miss Vercoe claimed that every year, between the months of October and March, Japan killed more than 20,000 dolphins through its drive hunts.

She added that between October 2004 and March 2005, 1165 dolphins were slaughtered in drive fisheries.

And between October 2003 and March 2004, 78 dolphins were captured during the Japanese drive hunts and sold to dolphinariums around the world.

"Sadly, if facilities like Napier's Marineland insist on keeping captive dolphins, many more dolphins will continue to be killed, caught and sold in the Japanese drive hunts.

"Replacing Shona, the latest dolphin to die at Napier Marineland, with a captive bred dolphin is not the answer. It only means there will be one less captive dolphin available to other dolphinariums, meaning more dolphins will eventually be caught.

"The Japanese claim this hunt must go ahead as the dolphins eat too many fish and the fishermen are simply eradicating competition. The Japanese Government and fishermen say dolphin hunting is part of Japanese culture and support the activity."

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY