December has been a brutal month for dolphins in Taiji, Japan. Reports from the ground reveal the tragic chase, capture and slaughter of over 100 dolphins in an intense few weeks of hunting. At least eight Risso’s dolphins were herded and killed on December 17th, and a day later, a large pod of striped dolphins…

Reports from Taiji reveal the brutal struggle of a large pod of pilot whales that were chased, captured and held for several days before their slaughter. On November 19th, at least 50 pilot whales, including mothers and calves, were driven into the cove. They were held overnight, and separated into two groups the following day.…

Recent reports from Taiji reveal the tragic chase, capture and slaughter of at least two separate small pods of bottlenose dolphins on November 10th. Of these driven and captured, five dolphins were selected alive for aquaria shortly after the herding occurred, while three were reportedly released back into the ocean. The remaining 8-10 dolphins were…

Marna Olsen continues her reporting from Taiji, Japan It was hard to believe, but again this morning hunting boats grouped together out by the horizon. Black smoke could be seen, which is an indicator of fast movement. Another drive hunt was happening. The species hunted was Risso’s dolphins. The pod was very small, only 6-8…

Another update is provided from the ground in Taiji, Japan by Hans Peter Roth and Marna Olsen on behalf of WDC. One should never get used to Blue Cove days. They will end eventually. Like yesterday. After eight consecutive days with no hunt in spite of relatively good hunting conditions, we had queasy feelings early…

Marna Olsen and Hans Peter Roth provide another update from their monitoring activities in Taiji, Japan on behalf of WDC. It could be seen from afar, as there were crows circling above it. A carcass of a Risso’s dolphin presently lying on the beach between the big Taiji lighthouse and our vantage point, where we…

Guest blog’s from Marna Olsen and her trip to Taiji to monitor the dolphin drive hunts on behalf of WDC continue.  Marna’s first few days were uneventful, but she reports on a recent hunt of Risso’s dolphins that occurred October 19th, her fifth day of monitoring. October 16th What will it be like? I’ve asked…

WDC guest blogger, Marna Olsen, is a Faroese anti-hunt campaigner who has travelled to Taiji in Japan, scene of the notorious dolphin drive hunts, to help WDC monitor activities in the region, provide updates on the hunts, and continue to foster positive relationships in Japan. She is joined by Hans Peter Roth, a Swiss journalist…

The first slaughter of the drive hunt season which officially began on September 1st commenced with the brutal killing of at least 16 Risso’s dolphins that were herded into the killing cove on September 10th. Reports from Taiji also reveal the tragic chase, capture and round-up of as many as 80 bottlenose dolphins on September…