NOT having a whale of a time.

In Tiaji, Japan every year thousands of smart, talented, playful beings are bloodily slaughtered each year. These beings are the beautiful and majestic dolphin.

There is a cove in Tiaji, Japan, that looks so beautiful and peaceful. This cove is filled with clear blue water and enclosed on three sides (perfect for concealing what is actually happening in the cove). But 6 months out of the year it is a slaughter house. Up to 2,000 dolphins are killed in Tiaji alone each year, and around 20,000 in all of Japan.

Dolphins are the most social creatures on the planet. They often, both male and females, stay in the same pod for life. Dolphins are also the only known animals that will come to the rescue of a human being. They are recognized for their friendliness, often coming closer to people when near, and swimming around them while investigating and playing. They might even be on the same intelligence level of humans. Their brain size is larger, they can understand around 90 words in sign language, and are even self aware.

So why would somebody abuse this curious animal? Why would somebody kill thousands of dolphins for food when they aren't even safe for human consumption? Why would somebody kill an innocent and helpless mother and her baby dolphin calf? Why?

Dolphin meat is not safe for people to eat. And many times people who buy dolphin meat in Japan don't even know they are, because dolphin meat is sold a lot as counterfeit meat from a much larger whale. Many packages of dolphin meat are purposely mismarked as more expensive whale meat. In addition to that, the mercury content in dolphin and whale meat is extremely high and unsafe for eating. Hundreds of samples of dolphin meat tested from around Japan has all been shown to be toxic and far exceeds their own ministry of health recommendations. Some internal organ meat for sale at the Okura markets near Taiji was analyzed to have 5000 times more mercury than the health advisory of 0.4 ppm(parts per million). 5000 times. wow. Having too much mercury in your body leads to things like skin discoloration, swelling, shedding of skin, hypertension, muscle weakness, kidney disfunction, rashes, and even the loss of hair, teeth, and nails. The Japanese government was also trying to serve dolphin meat in schools for free. The horribly hight mercury content is very harming for children especially, and they wanted to serve it in schools?!

What is Japan's way of justifying their dolphin slaughter? Pest control. Yes, they view dolphins as pests. apparently, the Japanese government thinks dolphins are eating too much of their fish. So, the best way to save the fish for the greedy people? controlling the pests who eat them all, the dolphins. It is insane. Dolphins are NOT pests, they are creatures that should be protected and loved. Not viewed as ''pests''.

If you want to help save the dolphins and learn more about it I suggest watching "The Cove", Ric O'Barry, star of Flipper goes into Tiaji to expose the dolphin slaughter to the world through this documentary. You can also go to www.takepart.com/thecove or http://www.thecovemovie.com/ . Sign the petition. Support the cause. Save the dolphins.