November 5th, 2007

In late October, celebrity activists attracted international media attention when they paddled through waters stained with blood to honor the spirits of thousands of dolphins killed in Taiji, Japan each year during the village's annual “drive fisheries” slaughter. International celebrities including Hayden Panettiere, star of the American TV show, Heroes, participated in the protest.  Also taking part were Australian actress Isabel Lucas, professional surfer Dave Rastovich, model Hannah Rastovich, and author Peter Heller.  Other celebrities, including actor Pierce Brosnan, actress Alexandra Paul, professional surfer Karina Petroni, musician Julian Lennon, and Heroes actors Noah Gray-Cabey and Greg Grunberg support the campaign.

Watch CNN's video coverage of the moving event organized by The Whaleman Foundation in collaboration with the Animal Welfare Institute, a WSPA member society. 

In May, Hayden Paettiere, along with actor Esai Morales and surfer Dave Rastovich, attended the International Whaling Commission meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.  They spoke out against whaling on video podcasts produced by the WSPA.  Click on the video link below to hear their messages of support.

WSPA joins global opposition to cruel hunts

This recent protest comes as part of a growing international outcry against Japan's brutal and unnecessary dolphin hunts.  Each year between September and April, fishers hunt and kill thousands of dolphins by driving them to shore and brutally stabbing them for use as meat and fertilizer.  Some dolphins are also captured alive to be sold to marine mammal facilities such as aquariums and “swim with the dolphin” programs.

On September 25, 2007, WSPA joined more than 80 animal welfare groups and thousands of people in peaceful demonstrations outside Japanese embassies and consulates around the world on Japan Dolphin Day. 
Read our press release for this event >>
Click here to learn more about the protests >>

Sharanya Prasad, Marine Mammal Program Officer for WSPA in the United States, presented a letter of protest to a high-ranking official of the Japanese consulate, who promised to send it to the Japanese government in Tokyo. 
Click here to listen to Sharanya's interview on WBZ Radio, explaining why the international animal welfare community urges Japan to stop the slaughter of dolphins >>

Read more about WSPA's marine mammal campaigns >>  

Support WSPA's work to end the cruel killing of whales and dolphins around the world >>