"Please Help Stop the Export of Dolphins from Japan to China" (updated 13 May 2006)

"CSI and Elsa Nature Conservancy of Japan ask you to send an email or fax protest today, to the places indicated below, to stop Taiji, Japan from receiving an export permit for eight female bottlenose dolphins to be sold to Dalian, China. Time is short, but your action may make the difference.
Whales Alive! readers know that Taiji, Japan is infamous for slaughtering dolphins, and that the captive dolphin industry supports the drive hunt. The town of Taiji and the Taiji Whale Museum select dolphins to sell, while the rest are slaughtered for meat. These eight dolphins will be sold for US$375,000, seven times what the Taiji Fishing Cooperative was paid. Last year Dalian dolphinarium paid US$400,000 for eight dolphins, again seven times their original price. The sale to China is labeled an "academic exchange" to try to make it legal.

The Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) has refused to stop its members from buying or selling drive hunt dolphins. The Taiji Whale Museum is a member of JAZA, and JAZA is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), which has warned its members not to purchase dolphins from the drive hunt. Last year six bottlenose dolphins, one short-finned pilot whale, and one dolphin/hybrid died at the Taiji Whale Museum. Two false killer whales disappeared this January."

Please send your polite request opposing this export to:
- Mr. Kazutaka Sangen, Town Mayor of Taiji, E-mail: taiji@town.taiji.wakayama.jp, Fax: +81-735-59-2884
- Mr. Toshihiro Nikai, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, E-mail: webmaster@meti.go.jp, Fax: +81-3-3501-6942
- Mr. Teruyuki Komiya & Mr. Ken-ichi Kitamura, Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums, E-mail: exdjaza@sirius.ocn.ne.jp, Fax: +81-3-3837-1231

13 May 2006

Dear Friends,

I have just sent e-mails to all 3 listed persons in Japan, and have provided sample letters below each contact listed. You are welcome to use or edit as appropriate.

Also, if you would like further information, or to inform others (please forward this action alert) on the dolphin drive hunts, I am providing the following link to BlueVoice.org, which has been documenting this issue for a number of years.
http://www.bluevoice.org

Thank you for your time in considering these contents.
Peggy

SAMPLE LETTERS (that I sent)
(Please note that EACH letter is slightly different in request to the recipients.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Mr. Kazutaka Sangen, Town Mayor of Taiji, E-mail: taiji@town.taiji.wakayama.jp, Fax: +81-735-59-2884

Dear Honorable Mr. Kazutaka Sangen, Town Mayor of Taiji,
For over five years, I have been aware of the world famous "Taiji Dolphin Drives". The town of Taiji and the Taiji Whale Museum select dolphins to sell, while the rest are slaughtered for meat. It has been saddening to know that the Taiji fishermen have been slaughtering dolphins, and that the captive dolphin industry supports the drive hunt.
The Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) has refused to stop its members from buying or selling drive hunt dolphins. The Taiji Whale Museum is a member of JAZA, and JAZA is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), which has warned its members not to purchase dolphins from the drive hunt. Yet last year six bottlenose dolphins, one short-finned pilot whale, and one dolphin/hybrid died at the Taiji Whale Museum. Two false killer whales disappeared this January.
I have recently been informed of the plans in Taiji to apply for an export permit, labeled an "academic exchange", for eight female bottlenose dolphins to be sold to Dalian, China.
I am writing because I oppose this export, and I oppose the "Taiji Dolphin Drives". I ask that you please consider an immediate halt to this cruel and inhumane practice. Your response would be most appreciated.

Sincerely,
(your name)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Mr. Toshihiro Nikai, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, E-mail: webmaster@meti.go.jp, Fax: +81-3-3501-6942

Dear Honorable Mr. Toshihiro Nikai, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry,
For over five years, I have been aware of the world famous "Taiji Dolphin Drives". The town of Taiji and the Taiji Whale Museum select dolphins to sell, while the rest are slaughtered for meat. It has been saddening to know that the Taiji fishermen have been slaughtering dolphins, and that the captive dolphin industry supports the drive hunt.
The Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) has refused to stop its members from buying or selling drive hunt dolphins. The Taiji Whale Museum is a member of JAZA, and JAZA is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), which has warned its members not to purchase dolphins from the drive hunt. Yet last year six bottlenose dolphins, one short-finned pilot whale, and one dolphin/hybrid died at the Taiji Whale Museum. Two false killer whales disappeared this January.
I have recently been informed of the plans in Taiji to apply for an export permit, labeled an "academic exchange", for eight female bottlenose dolphins to be sold to Dalian, China.
I am writing because I oppose this export, and I oppose the "Taiji Dolphin Drives". I ask that you please consider actions that would halt this cruel and inhumane practice. Please refuse the issuance of permits of exporting, selling, and purchasing drive hunt dolphins. Your response would be most appreciated.

Sincerely,
(your name)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Mr. Teruyuki Komiya & Mr. Ken-ichi Kitamura, Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums, E-mail: exdjaza@sirius.ocn.ne.jp, Fax: +81-3-3837-1231

Dear Honorable Mr. Teruyuki Komiya & Mr. Ken-ichi Kitamura, Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums,
For over five years, I have been aware of the world famous "Taiji Dolphin Drives". The town of Taiji and the Taiji Whale Museum select dolphins to sell, while the rest are slaughtered for meat. It has been saddening to know that the Taiji fishermen have been slaughtering dolphins, and that the captive dolphin industry supports the drive hunt.
The Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) has refused to stop its members from buying or selling drive hunt dolphins. The Taiji Whale Museum is a member of JAZA, and JAZA is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), which has warned its members not to purchase dolphins from the drive hunt. Yet last year six bottlenose dolphins, one short-finned pilot whale, and one dolphin/hybrid died at the Taiji Whale Museum. Two false killer whales disappeared this January.
I have recently been informed of the plans in Taiji to apply for an export permit, labeled an "academic exchange", for eight female bottlenose dolphins to be sold to Dalian, China.
I am writing because I oppose this export, and I oppose the "Taiji Dolphin Drives". I ask that you please consider an immediate halt to this cruel and inhumane practice. Please take prompt action to stop all members of JAZA from selling and purchasing drive hunt dolphins. Your response would be most appreciated.

Sincerely,
(your name)