Anatomy of a Dolphin Capture

With Dolphin Project’s Cove Monitors on the ground in Taiji, Japan to close off the 2025-26 hunting season, we were able to document a significant bottlenose drive, resulting in 22 cetaceans being taken captive.

In the early morning hours of February 2, the day started like any other, with banger (hunting) boats fanning across open water, in search of wild dolphin pods. This season’s quota allows for 1814 dolphins across nine species to either be slaughtered or taken captive.

By the day’s end, hunters would hit a major payday, having driven in a bottlenose dolphin pod with over 100 members. The agitated dolphins would then be held overnight, their fate to be decided the following day.

“A huge amount of splash could be seen as hunters drove dolphins towards the Cove. I thought about how beautiful the dolphins were and couldn’t believe how fast they were swimming. They must have been in sheer panic mode. After the net dropped behind them, I thought about how tragic it was that some of them were never going to have the opportunity to swim like that again, to be in the ocean, with their family.” ~ Cove Monitor Cynthia

Cynthia continues:

“I came back to the Cove in the evening to check on the pod. It looked like the Cove was boiling with dolphins. They had broken into many smaller groups and were circling the netted area they were confined to with many tail slapping and vocalizing deep, snorting noises. The dolphins were clearing agitated and distressed as would be expected.” ~ Cove Monitor Cynthia

February 3 saw trainers entering the Cove on skiffs. And then the real work began, as groups of dolphins were brought underneath the tarps for a detailed inspection process. Typically, trainers look for young, unblemished females, as they are the “fan favorites” of marine parks and aquariums. That — and they can be bred, resulting in an endless supply of revenue-generating entertainment.

“Hunters divided the dolphins into small groups, pushing each group very close to the tarps. Dolphins were bumping into each other, swimming right on top of one another. Divers were pouncing on dolphins, about 4-5 people per dolphin as selected mammals were wrestled to the skiffs. There, they were wrapped in nets and taken to waiting trainers. Some fought very hard by thrashing the whole time. Although I have seen many bottlenose dolphin captures during my trips to Taiji, watching dolphin after dolphin get manhandled while thrashing and fighting for its freedom is always so painful to witness. I wish everyone who goes to a dolphin show could see this.” ~ Cove Monitor Cynthia

Exhausted and terrified, the pod is forced further into the Cove for captive selection, Taiji, Japan. Credit: DolphinProject.org

The pod of bottlenose dolphins, from the young to the old, swim closely together after being driven into the Cove, Taiji, Japan. Credit: DolphinProject.org

The venues that hold dolphins captive would have their audiences believe the dolphins volunteered for a life of show business. The reality is far more disturbing. Consider the images our Cove Monitors routinely see during such captive selections, from being driven into the Cove to being on public display:

• dolphins panicking and suffocating in nets,
• dolphins violently thrashing in slings in attempts to escape,
• dolphins force-fed supplement and medication-laced food,
• dolphins forced into unnatural groupings, often resulting in stress-related behaviors and injuries, and,
• a life devoid of curiosity, and experiences that make life worth living

Imagine one day swimming wild and free. And the next, having your freedoms taken away, in the most violent way possible, Taiji, Japan. Credit: DolphinProject.org

Freshly-caught dolphins now face a life of captivity — a life fraught with uncertainty, Taiji, Japan. Credit: DolphinProject.org

Imagine the trauma the dolphins endured as cetacean after cetacean was evaluated. When it was all over, the pod was 22 members short. Did calves lose their mothers? Did mothers lose their daughters? We can only speculate on the damage done.

“When it was finally over and the dolphin hunters began the release process, I had mixed emotions as I watched the dolphins swim away as fast as they could. I felt the joy and relief at their release but also the sadness for the 22 captives that were no longer among them. Knowing these captives will spend their rest of their lives in a concrete tank, performing for humans, is heartbreaking.” ~ Cove Monitor Cynthia

Despite the release of the remaining dolphins, there would be no return to normal. And tragically, the horror has just begun for those dumped into Taiji’s holding pens.

LEARN MORE about our campaign in Taiji, Japan.

Featured image: After driving in a pod of wild bottlenose dolphins into the Cove, the mammals are wrangled under tarps to undergo “inspection” during captive selection, Taiji, Japan. Credit: DolphinProject.org