The fishermen of the dolphin drive hunt argue that this event brings in money for themselves and for the town of Taiji because of the high demand for live dolphins for transfer to aquariums, swim with dolphin programs, and dolphinariums. This demand has given the fishermen an incentive to capture so many dolphins which in turn results in so many deaths of the captured dolphins.
A live dolphin that is sold to captivity in marine parks and swim with dolphin programs brings in much more profit than dead dolphin meat which brings in about $600.00 a year. One live dolphin can sell for $150 000.00 and up to $300 000.00.
The sale of dolphins every year for captivity is what keeps the dolphin drive hunt an ongoing annual process.
The people of Taiji that are involved in the dolphin hunt argue that they need to sustain themselves and this dolphin hunt supplements much of their income. Furthermore, they say that people eat cows and pigs and that they are hypocrites, just because they are eating dolphins does not mean that eating cows and pigs are any better.
Infamous albino dolphin calf in Taiji’s Whale Museum
Named “Angel”, who was ripped from her mother during the Taiji capturing process
