Dolphins escape from captivity in Japanese seaside town after holding pens were 'slashed' 

  •   GRAPHIC CONTENT
  •  The town of Taiji in Japan has become notorious for its annual dolphin slaughter
  •  Today's incident is not believed to be connected as the dolphins were captive
  •  DolphinBase facility accused those responsible of endangering animals' lives 

By Afp and Chris Summers For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Four bottlenose dolphins escaped from captivity in Japan today after the nets keeping them in their holding pens were slashed.

But furious officials from the DolphinBase recreational facility in the town of Taiji described it as an 'egoistic and irresponsible act' which endangered the creatures' lives.

Taiji, 300 miles west of Tokyo, has been at the centre of protests from international animal rights campaigners since a 2009 documentary, The Cove, highlighted the town's annual dolphin slaughter.

Two of the three animals which have returned to the DolphinBase centre (pictured). A fourth, believed to be related to them, is swimming just outside the nets

Two of the three animals which have returned to the DolphinBase centre (pictured). A fourth, believed to be related to them, is swimming just outside the nets

The BBC reported that in 2010 a Dutch group called Blackfish carried out a similar attack on the nets keeping dolphin captives. 

But on their blog DolphinBase officials said: 'We are enraged by this heinous act which can easily lead to the dolphins dying.

'They think that once out of their pen, dolphins will swim far away but that is not true. Dolphins will not stray far and they will not leave their group.'

They said three of the dolphins had managed to swim back through the hole in the nets while the fourth was swimming in the sea nearby but was trying to figure out how to resume the rest of the pod.

Every year dozens of dolphins are lured into a cove near Taiji by local fishermen (pictured). Many of them are killed but some are captured and sold to aquariums and sea life centres

Every year dozens of dolphins are lured into a cove near Taiji by local fishermen (pictured). Many of them are killed but some are captured and sold to aquariums and sea life centres

Maisie Williams (pictured, left) who plays Arya Stark in Game Of Thrones (right) is one of many celebrities who have spoken out against the annual dolphin slaughter

A police official from the nearby city of Shingu said: 'We are investigating the case on suspicion of criminal damage.'

The Cove was an Oscar-winning film which depicted an annual dolphin slaughter in the area.

Hundreds of dolphins and pilot whales are herded by fishermen into a cove and most are then killed for their meat, or sold to aquariums such as DolphinBase.

Environmental campaigners visit Taiji every year to protest the slaughter and the authorities have boosted security to prevent clashes between locals and activists.

Japanese fishermen catch dolphins as part of an annual hunt in Taiji in 2014. Locals claim the hunt is an important ritual dating back centuries and point out dolphins are not an endangered species

Japanese fishermen catch dolphins as part of an annual hunt in Taiji in 2014. Locals claim the hunt is an important ritual dating back centuries and point out dolphins are not an endangered species

Among those celebrities supporting the protest are English actress Maisie Williams, who played Arya Stark in Game Of Thrones. 

Defenders of the hunt say it is a tradition and point out the animals are not an endangered species, a position echoed by the Japanese government.

Ric O'Barry, the director of The Cove, was detained in Japan last year for nearly three weeks after being denied entry to the country, and was eventually deported.

O'Barry's Dolphin Project, a dolphin protection and campaign group, criticised today's cutting of the nets.

'While we are against keeping dolphins in captivity, we do not condone illegal behaviour,' it said on its website.

Environmental campaigners visit Taiji every year to protest an annual slaughter of dolphins 

Environmental campaigners visit Taiji every year to protest an annual slaughter of dolphins 

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