The increasing capture and subsequent holding of dolphins for research or entertainment purposes is contributing to their deaths at an alarming rate. The most infamous hunts take place in Taiji, Japan (as documented in The Cove).

The capture process has traumatic effects on the dolphins, resulting in a huge amount of dolphin deaths. The inhumane and brutal process itself takes countless dolphins’ lives. It violently disrupts social groups, tears families apart and snatches individuals away. To obtain an ideal dolphin – a female dolphin or breeding age – boats are used to chase the pod into shallow waters, where nets are casted on as many dolphins as possible, then hauled. Unwanted dolphins are thrown back into the sea. Some die from shock or stress, while others succumb to pneumonia, exhaustion and injuries obtained from the violent capture.

Capture stress can be severe and fatal, both physically and psychologically. Statistics show that 53% of dolphins that survive the capture process die within the first 3 months.