Taiji Whale Museum resigns from aquaria body over dolphin hunt ban

The Taiji Whale Museum has left the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) after it failed to comply with new rules preventing members from obtaining dolphins from the infamous drive hunts that take part in the village.

The drive hunt season started on Sept. 1st and the Museum, which has a dolphinarium, has already placed an order for dolphins with fishermen. JAZA changed its membership rules earlier this year after being told it could no longer be a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) unless its members stopped obtaining dolphins from the hunt.

Unfortunately, while members of JAZA will no longer be able to obtain dolphins from Taiji, by resigning the museum will now join several other marine parks in Japan that can continue to do so.

The Japanese government has set a quote of 1873 dolphins in Taiji this year. Last year, around 80 dolphins were taken into captivity from the hunts to be supplied to aquaria in Japan and other parts of the world.

Find out more about the dolphin drive hunts.

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