‘The Cove’ Takes Aim at Dolphin Encounters

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  08.10.09 | 2:00 PM ET

A new documentary hopes to dampen the demand for “dolphin encounters,” the ever-popular swim-with-dolphins attractions found worldwide. “The Cove,” which won the Audience Award at Sundance before opening in theaters this past weekend, examines the killing and capture of dolphins in coastal Japan—and its star, Ric O’Barry, says explicitly that one of the filmmakers’ goals is to make tourists “think twice before buying a ticket.”

Picturing a staid moralizing tale? Think again. The movie is being billed as part “Flipper” and part “Bourne Identity”—here’s the surprisingly dramatic trailer:

Tags: Documentaries, Movies, Pop Culture Travel, Tourism, Wildlife, Asia, Japan, News and Briefs

Eva Holland is co-editor of World Hum. She is a former associate editor at Up Here and Up Here Business magazines, and a contributor to Vela. She's based in Canada's Yukon territory.


1 Comment for ‘The Cove’ Takes Aim at Dolphin Encounters

FredFred 08.12.09 | 10:08 AM ET

What happens when a hypocrite and a liar actually has something to say this time?

Ric O’Barry is a grandstanding fool and a hypocrite that has embellished his credentials and experience to garner press and make money off the activist movement for the last 30 years. If you want to know more about him follow this link to read about how he almost killed two dolphins he released illegally. http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases99/june99/noaa99r134.html

That being said, what is happening in Taiji is disgusting and deserves condemnation. The slaughter is an outdated and outlandish practice that serves no one.

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