ABOVE: Kazutoshi Arai, Chair of Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums, says his organization will no longer use dolphins captured during Taiji hunt
Japan‘s aquariums promised on Wednesday to stop acquiring dolphins captured in a bloody hunt that was depicted in the Oscar-winning documentary “The Cove” and has caused global outrage.
The move by the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) follows a decision last month by the Swiss-based umbrella group World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, or WAZA, to suspend the Japanese organisation’s membership.
WAZA characterised the Taiji hunt as “cruel,” and decided that none of its members should acquire dolphins in such a way.
READ MORE: Japan defends annual dolphin hunt in Taiji cove
In that hunt, dolphins are scared with banging, herded into a cove and speared by fishermen for their meat.
The best-looking ones are sold to aquariums.
In a letter to WAZA, the Japanese group, which comprises 89 zoos and 63 aquariums, said it would abide by WAZA’s decision.
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