Before today, Ric O'Barry was best known as the dolphin trainer for the hit TV series flipper. This year, he may be better known for inspiring National Geographic photographer Louis Phihoyos to create the documentary The Cove, which covers the tragedy that circulates around the dolphin trade. Much of the hunting is done in secluded coves in Japan, a country that is already well known for what they claim are scientific studies and what others claim is simply whaling. Because of this, Barry had to hire SEAL-like divers to infiltrate the hunting grounds and film the fishermen for much of the documentary.
While the dolphin hunt isn't illegal per se, the violent images of dolphin swarms being driven to the beach only to have their throats slashed is probably reprehensible to most western cultures—considering dolphins to have near-human intelligence. While dolphins are covered under the whaling moratorium, this document has no legal binding and is already ignored by Japan and other countries.
The Cove, which has already won a dozen accolades from independent film festivals, including the Audience Award from the Sundance Film Festival, is one part Whale Wars, and another part James Bond. Because of the hostilities and restrictions set on them by the government of the local Japanese prefecture, high tech equipment including hidden cameras, scuba/sled infiltration, and blackwater diving. The idea was to get the equipment and cameramen in place to catch the events as the unfolded to portray the greatest, up-close realism. Some of the technical wizardry involved, such as using fake rocks to conceal cameras, was provided by George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic.
The Cove will be in theaters across America next weekend, which could give you a rare glimpse into the dolphin industry that the Japanese government seems so determined to defend.
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