Preservation Society Raise Awareness of Dolphin Abuse

Recorders Used for OSCAR-Nominated Documentary on Dolphin Killings in Japan  

DMN Newswire–2010-3-3–Sound Devices recorders helped the crew of the Oceanic Preservation Society bring to light the suffering and killing of wild dolphins in Taiji, Japan in its new documentary, “The Cove.”  The film, which has been nominated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the Best Documentary Feature category, chronicles the annual round up of dolphins in Japan to be sold to the captive dolphin industry.  Disguised and sold as more expensive whale meat to school lunch programs and as part of the general food supply around the country, the film stresses the health effects and environmental causes of consuming dolphin meat, which has extremely high levels of mercury.

An essential element of the story was, sadly, the audio which captured the sounds of the dolphins screaming and thrashing as dolphin hunters banged poles to frighten them and drive them into a secret cove where they would be hunted and killed. 

“The sounds we captured were very disturbing,” explains Associate Producer on film and Director of Clandestine Operations Charles Hambleton.  “We are proud that the Academy has nominated this film, as this will help to reach a much larger audience and make more people aware of the atrocities that are happening to these beautiful and intelligent marine mammals worldwide and how the dolphin captivity industry exists purely for profit - not education.  Most recently, the unfortunate death of SeaWorld Orca trainer Dawn Brancheau illustrates this. ‘The Cove’ has also been drawing attention to the alarming levels of mercury and other toxins in all marine life worldwide - caused by humanity.”

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