Endangered Dolphins - An Emerging Threat to Their Survival

Dolphins are one of nature's most extraordinary creatures. They are illustrious for their intelligence, their playfulness, and altruism. Sadly, many dolphin species are threatened or in danger of extinction. As humans we must do more to take care of these high-priced animals and ensure their survival. There is much we can learn from them, and much we still do not understand about these creatures. Contemporary day threats faced by endangered dolphins consist of destruction of their natural habitat, accidental fishing, and dolphin drive hunting.

While whaling has been banned and heavily regulated throughout many parts of the world, there are countries that have not been in full compliance. Recently, Japan has been under scrutiny for maintaining an business capturing dolphins for their meat. The film "The Cove" was screened just last year, which brought this field to the concentration of much of the western world, namely, dolphin drive hunting in Taiji, Japan. However, dolphin hunting has been ongoing since aged times. Taiji is an important case because in new years they have been stepping up output of dolphin and whale meat.

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Drive hunting and whaling are only one of many threats faced by dolphins. Species of river dolphins such as the Ganges and Yangtze River dolphins are either functionally extinct or critically endangered. In many cases, humans are to blame, as the rivers are damaged by pollution, and dolphins are killed from fishing or recreational boating. Furthermore, dolphins have fallen victim often to tuna fishermen, although older techniques used to capture tuna kill would kill far greater numbers of dolphins than fall victim using today's methods. However, albacore tuna is still the only true "dolphin-safe" type of tuna as fishing techniques used to catch the tuna are quite different from other types of tuna fishing.

Another threat that has been emerging recently is western trade with the Japanese whalers in Taiji and other areas known to institution dolphin drive hunting. Traders finding for affordable types of meat to be used as food, or even as a substitute for tuna need look no farther than considering dolphin meat. One website claims to trade with the Japanese to purchase dolphin meat to be used as a tuna substitute for American school children. According to the site, "...the dolphins are killed and shipped out to American schools as a superior substitute for tuna."

Any rational person should be outraged at such a blatant disregard for the sanctity of curious life. We cannot allow this type of animal cruelty and exploitation to continue. These wondrous creatures should be protected at all costs. I implore population to do some explore into this matter and stand up to the Japanese. They should be held accountable like the rest of the world for ill rehabilitation of threatened and endangered animals. Dolphins are curious creatures, not very different from human beings. In the United States or in Europe, we would not allow a laboratory rat or a chimpanzee to undergo such a barbaric process, let alone a highly curious creature. Why should Japan be allowed to engage in these practices?

Endangered Dolphins - An Emerging Threat to Their Survival

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