Can We Save the Dolphins
67I just read a most amazing blog about dolphins. Do you love dolphins? I do. They are supposed to be one of the smartest mammals in the world. Remember Flipper, he was always saving Bud and others. Flipper laid his life on the line many times to save humans and animals alike. Do you think we could gather together to save his kin? He was noble and loved. Will we watch his sons and daughters die?
It seems that there is a place in Japan, Taiji, Japan to be exact, where they are capturing and killing 20,000 dolphins a year. These dolphins are being sold to the Japanese market as meat...often labeled "whale meat" (a delicacy in Japan). However, they are poisoning the Japanese people because many of these dolphins have incredibly high mercury levels.
I love dolphins. They are extremely intelligent and social animals...sound like any friends you have? Maybe the dolphin is just more intelligent than your friends. Sorry to say that, and I don't mean to put any human down, but dolphins are known for not attacking humans, even when provoked. In this, dolphins may be superior to us; we may be able to learn a thing or two from these gentle "beasts".
Speculation is that dolphins can watch and learn, can hear and learn, and can teach us. Would you keep your best friend in captivity, just to enjoy their company? Why do we do this to the dolphin? Read this article to understand some of the wonders of dolphins.
Dolphin Saves Stranded Whales
I would like to believe, that if man evolved from any animal it was a dolphin. Dolphins show an uncanny awareness of other's needs and an altruistic awareness that far surpasses even our species. Monkey throw poop at us; my daughter has been peed on by monkeys. Dolphins have shown that they are intelligent and friendly. They help, not hurt. Even when we hurt them and not help.
Still don't believe? Read this article about how the Navy uses dolphins. The Navy believes they are wonderful tools. The Navy refused to see that this species may have it's own intelligence; along with the longings for love and family we all have.
Surfer Follows Dolphins
Chimps may look more human, but dolphins exhibit more of the characteristics we strive for. Altruistic, loving, social and intelligent...the dolphin has it all. If it is said we came from the sea in some far off distant past, why could we not have been a relative of these special creatures? The dolphin seems to exhibit all of the characteristics that we see in "good" people, without the human greed and selfishness. Are these creatures our link to "God"?
I don't know, but here we are killing them, 20,000 a year in one small cove in Japan. You can say that it is not us, it is Japan. But if we do nothing, it is the same as if it was us! Will we sit back and do nothing? Will you be content to know our friends are being slaughtered? Is there a way we can help these helpers of the human race? Yes! First, read this blog and watch the trailer for the movie, "The Cove". Next, if you still don't believe, watch the movie when it comes to your theater.
Please go here and sign the petition asking the American government to stop this behavior. In all actuality there is not much we can do individually, except to let our government know that we abhor and despise how the dolphins are being treated. That and to spread the word! Tell your neighbors, tell your co-workers, tell your family! We need to come together to save these gentle denizens of the seas! Save the dolphins!
Save the Dolphins, Save the World...(ever watch Heroes?)
CommentsLoading...
A girl after my own heart!
Thanks Misha, I would love to read it! I agree, sometimes I think they are the top not us...they are much less violent! A friend sent me this link and I was aghast to think this was happening. I do not sign many petitions, but I did sign this one! Save the dolphins, save the world! :D
Katie, Must have cross-posted. :D I read this blog and was really upset. I have watched dolphins, although I have never had the fun of swimming with them. They are wonderful and actually! caring creatures. It is said they learn and think. Here, they are being slaughtered! Very upsetting! Thanks for the comment.
Maybe monkeys are where we come from, but dolphins is where we should be going, as a species. Thank you, K@ri
I so wanted to be a marine biologist when I was growing up. Dolphins and whales have always amazed me.
LOL, Tom you are sooo right! Thanks for the words of wisdom!! :D
djp, I don't know about you, but I'll never grow up...now is a good a time as any to start! My sister is a marine biologist and loves it!
There was this disturbing email doing the rounds about the dolphin slaying in Japan...with graphic pictures.They look like such beautiful gentle creatures you have to wonder why anyone would want to harm them...but then that could be said for almost all other creatures that are slaughtered for whatever reason!
i went swimming with a whale a few months ago - it was an amazing experience!
YOU ARE AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Feline Prophet, After looking into this, I believe it is happening. And the reason is the same for many of the world's evils...money. I watch the news and everyday I have to ask myself, "would you kill for money?" It seems it is becoming common place. You can kill people, animals, ideals, hopes...this list is endless. The question is, will you? Sometimes you just have to take a stand.
yamanote, Then you understand that these are not just your run of the mill "wild animals"? How can you swim safely with something "wild" the size of a whale? :D
Sandman, Thank you so much! I cannot wait to see the movie...although I will probably talk through the entire thing...I tend to do that when a movie upsets me. I was very upset to hear about this! Thank you so much for making me aware of this threat to one of natures most beautiful creatures! :D
Love the dolphin.
K@ri, Just in case you didn't get my full meaning amazing is synonymous with,a wonderful, caring, beautiful spirit and etc etc etc .........
R Burow, Me too! Thanks!! :D
Sandman, You are also very amazing! (full meaning intended!) :D
I agree with everything here..wonderfully presented my dear sweet lady....wish I had thought of it...:O) Hugs
I was up at the Channel Islands on a boat over the weekend a few years back doing some fishing . And we got to do some whale watching at the same time , It was early or mid march .
On the way back to shore on that Sunday afternoon we had a school of dolphins follow us back part of the way to shore , It was my highlight of the trip . And they got some cute ones at Seaworld there too . Good stuff as always K@ri !
This is a great hub. I agree, dolphins are so intelligent and they also have a huge connection with humans.
I join hands with you in this attempt k@ri. Thanks
I too appreciate the heads up on the petition k@ri! Dolphins exude the epitome of joy of life. There's nothing like seeing them frolic playfully as they guide your way in a boat, or take you for a ride when you hang on! If we could understand them, they would teach us much! Thank you for raising awareness with a small way to do something about helping them!
Don't know nobody that don't love a dolphin
I will sign the petition and link this wonderful hub to my hub re dolphins-Denmark's Shame.
So much destruction.
I remember a huge scandal dozens of years ago involving the inadvertent mass murder of dolphins that were caught in the nets of tuna fisherman. After an expose was done, people all around the globe boycotted the tuna fish producing company and nearly drove it out of business (I don't remember which company now.) Sometimes you have to tell people that their apartment building is on fire before they can evacuate. Great hub, K@ri, as always.
tony, Dolphins are magnificent! Although, I really don't know that we should keep them in captivity. I believe they would come to play if we set them free also!
Deepestwisdom, You certainly live up to your name! Dolphins are wonderful!
G-Ma, Thanks, but the inspiration was a blog I read...not really mine, I just jumped on the band wagon! I love dolphins! :D
shamel, So I can assume you signed the petition? Love you man! :D
SEM Pro, We are so lucky to have animals such as dolphins to show us how to live! We could learn much, but instead we try to kill them...thanks for signing the petition! We all need to do what we can!
Brenda, Nor do I...did you sign the petition?
ethel, Thank you! The dolphins need our support! :D
Thank you so much dohn! You are right, sometimes you need to tell them! I hope you signed the petition! I appreciate the comment! :D
I myself am a big fan of Penguins too !
Penguins are very cute! There are some very cute ones in Pittsburgh. :D
Awesome hub !!!! I love Dolphin's - I have them everywhere in my house and my yahoo ID is Flipper25701 . I signed the patition and forwarded it to all my friends. I will down load the widgit for all my site's. Thanks for bringing awarness, for I had no idea so many of these precious animals were being killed. HOOAH !!!!!
Thanks Army Infantry Mom! The idea for this came when I read another hubber's (Sandman's) blog about it! I was enraged and wrote this one to help out. Here is the link to his page.
http://blog.recordmended.com/2009/07/21/dolphins--
I really appreciate you signing the petition! We all need to stand together on this! :D
Awesome, Thanks for the exstra link,..going to go check it out now.
Army Infantry Mom, Thanks...that is where this started! :D
I adopted a dolphin some two years ago! You "adopt" a dolphin by paying a small fee (which goes into protecting dolphins), and you get a certificate and a photo of "your" dolphin, with it's name and characteristic! Very cute, and you know you did something meaningful, which is very rewarding!
Alessia, That's a wonderful way to show you care! Do you have the link? It sounds like it would make a great gift also, and my daughter's birthday is coming up. :D
I love this hub as I'm a BCC Wildlife anything addict. Though lately I'm missing out on some of their programs. Anyway, good thing we have HP to go to to read gems like this. Long live the dolphins and may the day come that they'll outsmart us humas eventually! Imagine dolphin hubbers - oh the stories they'd tell! :D
Thanks Cris! I love animals, all kinds. I appalled to hear about what was happening to these dolphins. LOL, dolphin hubbers! Yes, I would love to hear what they would say! :D
Hi K@ri,
Between you, Ethel and Sandman, you are doing a great job raising awareness of these despicable acts. The dolphins are truly gentle, smart and helpful creatures. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we humans could be described in the same way!
Peggy, I took this idea from Sandman's blog. The dolphins are truly wonderful and special, and yes, we could learn much from them! :D
Been away for so long!? Can't believe I missed this amazing hub on dolphins! My third favorite animals after cats and birds. I hate to say this, but the Japanese people should stop eating dolphin because it's killing them too!
May, It's sooo good to see you! I've missed you mucho! I love dolphins also...and it seems what goes around comes around! I see you have a new hub and I am off to read! Welcome home! :D
Lovely pictures - sadly, more and more of animals are disappearing forever - the world becomes a duller place with each loss - B.
billips, The world does become a duller place with each loss. Thanks, and I'm glad you liked the pics! :D
Great article, I can't imagine the world without these beautiful creatures.
Thanks doodlebugs! I could not imagine it either, and I hope I never have to.
wow. that is bad. watching and reading this made me cry. but it is a very good hub. people need to be aware of these problems
Lori, I agree...very bad problem, but one that people need to know about! Thanks! :D
Did you know that Dolphins can communicate an experience to each other in a way that the other experiences the exact experience that the first dolphin had as tho it was its own? Learned that a long time ago, something about their temporal lobe, lots more info, but long ago and can't remember it all. That recreating the experience as its own stuck with me since it is so incredible. Wood's Hole used to have lots info, but don't think so anymore.
ianaleah, That is amazing! Imagine if we could share in the same way...WOW.
I felt you did a really good job, so I decided to link your hub to mine about extinction. It's at the bottom under ways to help save our animals and planet. :) Thanks for writing such a good hub!
Angela, Thanks so much! It pains my heart to think of what we do, as a species, to others.
Misha 2 years ago
Love dolphins too Kari, and sometimes think that they are the top of evolution, not us... Just recently read a hub that they kill dolphins not only in Japan, but in Dania too. Let me see if i can find it again.
Yep, here it is http://hubpages.com/hub/Denmarks-Shame