Stop the Dolphin Slaughter in Taiji, Japan
WAZA Executive Director, Gerald Dick
The World Association for Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the world's largest network of zoos and aquariums around the world. Some members of the international aquarium and zoo industry are strongly connected to the Japanese dolphin slaughter, in that they pay top dollar for dolphins deemed suitable for commercial exploitation in dolphin shows and captive dolphin swim programs. In Taiji, live bottlenose dolphins have been sold for as much as $154,000. The dolphin massacres in Japan will continue for as long as members of the international dolphin display industry reward the fishermen with thousands of dollars for animals that are deemed suitable for commercial exploitation in captivity.
Send WAZA a letter urging them to enforce their Code of Ethics and expel the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) from their organization. Furthermore, WAZA must expel all other facilities that have purchased dolphins from the dolphin drive hunts.
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WAZA Executive Director, Gerald Dick
From:
[Your Name]
I am writing to you today to urge WAZA to enforce your code of ethics and expel the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) from your organization. Furthermore, it is imperative that WAZA must expel all other facilities that have purchased dolphins from the dolphin drive hunts in Taiji, Japan.
The code of ethics state that your members must not obtain animals by cruel and inhumane methods, such as drive fisheries. More than half of JAZA facilities buy their dolphins directly from the Taiji dolphin drives. Dolphins captured in Taiji have been sold for as much as $154,000. The massacres in the cove will continue as long as the international dolphin display industry will reward the fisherman with thousands of dollars for animals deemed suitable for exploitation in captivity.
Additionally, your code of ethics directly calls for termination of membership if an organization violates the rules: "Failure to satisfy or adhere to the Bylaws, Code of Ethics and all other rules and regulations shall be sufficient cause for suspension or denial of membership." Please uphold your regulations and expel the Japanese Association of Zoo's and Aquariums (JAZA) from WAZA immediately.