Did I recently mention we got Netflix? And we've been watching a lot of documentaries? Last night we pulled up our Instant Queue and watched "The Cove". I thought it was going to be about illegal killing of dolphins, which it partly was. What I didn't expect is the HUGE amount of dolphins that are killed in Japan (23,000 a year) and that there are no regulations to stop it (hence, it's sort of legal).
The documentary follows the vision of one man, Ric O'Barry, and his quest to stop the international "dolphin trade" in Taiji, Japan where dolphin trainers from all over the world come to purchase show dolphins for use in shows and interactive experiences (swim with dolphins). The ironic part? Ric O'Barry was the dolphin trainer and lead captor for the Flipper series. He caught and trained the dolphins used to film that TV show! The documentary put it well, Ric is trying to stop what he started. It is because of the TV series Flipper that dolphins are used as entertainment today. And it was because of his experience working with dolphins on the Flipper show that he realized how harmful captivity is to these creatures. Crazy.
So, in an effort to try and stop this, Ric O'Barry has been trying to draw attention to Taiji which is the world supplier of dolphins. What he found in addition to the dolphin trade is extraordinary (not in a good way). In this documentary, Ric O'Barry teams up with Louie Psihoyos to document on film what happens after the trainers select their dolphins. There is a hidden cove in the bay into which all the dolphins not seleceted are herded and killed. They want to find out what exactly goes on in that cove.
It is exciting and riveting and pulls at your heart. The adventure of the uncover nature is crazy. They could be caught, interrogated and the like. Yet, they are determined. The footage they get of the actual scene of the crime is heart wrenching. After it was over, I kept thinking, "wow, I had no idea." It makes you think twice about places like Sea World (which we love and have been to). And also brings to attention the amount of mercury in certain fish we eat (*side note* also talked about in the movie is how dolphin meat is toxic to humans, yet in Japan, they use the dolphin meat from Taiji to supplement whale meat in packaging - without labeling it!). This movie also made me think about my role as a follower of Christ in response to not only this but other humanitarian or preservation issues. As man created to enjoy this world, what is my role in all of this? What does it mean for me to appreciate nature and respect the dolphins? How should I respond? We are called to be "fishers of men" and share the Good News. But what about saving the dolphins? Doesn't this slaughter (as the movie puts it multiple times) break God's heart too? Didn't He create the dolphins? Now, I'm not going to go and fly to Taiji and stage a riot. I'm just asking...what should my response be?
You should watch this if: you like animals, are a humanitarian at heart, appreciate well done documentaries and love the ocean.
You should not watch this if: you want to go to a Sea World or similar type show and not feel guilty about watching dolphins in captivity perform or really enjoy swimming with dolphins in captivity. Or are a fisherman in Taiji. I don't think they would like this film either.
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