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Japanese aquariums turn to breeding dolphins instead of taking from wild

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Good first step, but those aquariums not a part of JAZA will still buy the ones caught at Taiji.

In effect this should put more pressure on the people at Taiji who continue to slaughter dolphins. The sale of the live dolphins is a major source of income for them as the people do not eat the dolphin meat. Hit the pocket book and people change.

Unlike the whale hunters I do not believe the Taiji hunters get a government subsidy, so any sources of income being cut would hurt.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Captivity is captivity bred into it or not, still don't know what has happened to the Dolphin left in a puddle at the defunct aquarium?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

"If you consider the costs, it is easier and cheaper to bring them from the wild, but breeding is the trend of the times," said Nagoya's Nitto, adding he expects more facilities will start using artificial insemination.

"Trend of the times"...I get the feeling that this guy is not totally on board with the idea.

The knowledge and experience gained through the research here could prove to be invaluable in helping to maintain the species in the future. The Churaumi Aquarium here in Okinawa is a teaching and research facility as well and were able to witness the first birth of a whale shark bred in captivity.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

I refuse to support this by visiting any zoo or aquarium in Japan.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

I wouldn't be sad if aquariums and zoos just disappeared.

 JAZA had estimated that if aquariums in the country resort only to breeding the species, the total population at the facilities will drop to 69 by 2030.

Could be a good opportunities to phase out dolphins from these places, but that's just wishful thinking...

4 ( +7 / -3 )

What does it matter anymore. Dolphins aquariums or any kind of aquariums are no longer popular among the new generations. This is the era of modern tech now. Most kids these days only need their phone or a ipad.

Soon the days of visit the zoo or aquariums are over. Makes me feel so old now.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Although the aquarium is not part of JAZA, the facility said it opted for artificial insemination, given international criticism of capturing wild dolphins.

It's sad there isn't enough interest and criticism from the Japanese public, that it has to be international pressure to get change happening.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

No more aquariums or zoos! They belong to the past.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I step forward but.

as a an animal lover, animals should be free. Same as human rights.

Children or adults should have the opportunity to see animals in real life if the can’t see them in nature. But apart from a few zoos like Steve Irwin’s one on Australia, most are just concrete cells.

if they really want to exploit dolphins for profit, rope off a 10km area of the sea and take tourist around, let them swim etc.

otherwise animal torture

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Aquariums are not popular?  Any time I have been near one they look packed.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

avoid continuing international criticism against displaying dolphins caught in the wild.

Gees! Miss the point much? The international criticism is for displaying dolphins in general and the criticism is not limited to Japanese aquariums (victim card). Whether they are wild caught or captive bred is not the point. Keeping dolphins in captivity is a cruel practice. Dolphins live for up to 30 years in the wild, but are lucky to live for ten years in captivity.

I wonder how that lonely single dolphin is going in that closed aquarium in Ibaraki/Chiba?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

In Osaka there is a zoo/aquarium? called Nifure, where kids can touch the animals. I'm totally against that. The stress these animals are under is torture. Feel sorry for these poor animals.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I can't speak for Japanese children but the Melbourne Aquarium is always very busy with visitors. Anyone wanting to see how an aquarium should be presented and run should visit it. But no way would if house any creature like a dolphin and certainly not a whale, those creatures hold be left in the open sea.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

What does it matter anymore. Dolphins aquariums or any kind of aquariums are no longer popular among the new generations. This is the era of modern tech now. Most kids these days only need their phone or a ipad.

Right, tell that to the well over 50,000,000, yeah 50 MILLION visitors to the Churaumi Aquarium in Okinawa!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@Tokyo-m

no idea why you received any downvotes, nor why you didn't score a raft of positive ones.....

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Soon the days of visit the zoo or aquariums are over. Makes me feel so old now.

This isn't accurate. I take my little ones to the zoo and aquarium in Nagoya and they are both packed with people every time we go, especially on weekends.

In the countryside zoos and aquariums are on the decline due to the lack of young people. And that is a good thing as most of the smaller zoos and aquariums are just torture chambers for the animals they display.

In the major cities though the zoos and aquariums are among the biggest attractions.

The ethics are certainly debatable even with the big zoos (the leopards in Nagoya's HIgashiyama zoo are kept in particularly small enclosures that make me wince). But if you have little kids who like animals and you live close to one, it is certainly going to become a regular spot to visit regardless if for no other reason than that they are the only thing you can afford to take them too regularly (Zoo admission = 500 Yen, kids free. Legoland admission = 6,000 Yen, kids pay too).

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I love dolphin. They can help us to decrease stress and children can learn so many things from dolphin.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Yubaru - Right, tell that to the well over 50,000,000, yeah 50 MILLION visitors to the Churaumi Aquarium in Okinawa!

I wonder how much that number would change if they did not have a marine mammal exhibit. Their most famous attraction is the whale shark.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

50 million on Okinawa for the Aquarium? How is that when Okinawa only had 10 million tourists last year??

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I wonder if the mother somehow knows her calf was not conceived naturally? And if this could have an effect on her behaviour towards it. They are clever beasts afterall.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Well makes a differences from the Taiji Dolphin hunt... which hopefully will one day be curtailed.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Your answer doesn't make sense. Sorry.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

50 million on Okinawa for the Aquarium? How is that when Okinawa only had 10 million tourists last year??

Never said "last year", it was a response to the comment about less people liking or going to aquariums. Sorry you misunderstood that comment, that was not the intent.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Hank Standerford - 50 million on Okinawa for the Aquarium? How is that when Okinawa only had 10 million tourists last year??

What? You don't think people would visit there more than once? Plus, I'm sure Okinawans visit there more than once a year, especially school kids. 50 million visitors per year is not an unrealistic figure although, it is somewhat exaggerated.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think the whole point of captivity has been missed. The 'trend' is to avoid captivity all together. This is disgusting that they think they a taking a step forward by breeding within the aquariums. It is absolutely pointless and only serves as a greedy money making scheme. I am appalled that Japan is taking so long to change its laws about the brutality that goes on in the cove of Taiji and even more disappointed to hear that they are just shifting the problem and not actually solving the real issue here. Shame on you Japan.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I have a dog. (Loves to go out) Should i let him free? But it's illegal plus i do not want it roaming around alone in the woods.

So Aquarium & Zoo. Same or different than pet owners? Both does protection. Both for entertainment. But one at home is happy and other at zoo/aquarium is sad.

Dolphins at Hong Kong Ocean park has been so popular since the 80s. Dolphins dancing and people cheering.

Britain has lot of hidden zoos and aquariums. British doesn't say anything about it.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Breeding animals, mammals no less, that normally live in the great oceans with their pod. No one sees any contradition here? Way past time to phase out dolfins and ocean going creatures from being spectacle captives in zoos and aquariums.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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