The Cove Video Guide

What experience did Ric have with Kathy, the dolphin that most often played Flipper?

She got very depressed and committed suicide

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is a United Nations recognized body set up to regulate the hunting and capture of all cetaceans. There is currently a moratorium on commercial whaling. What exception is written into this moratorium that Japan takes advantage of?

Dolphins aren't protected because they aren't considered whales

The fish house of many aquariums that house dolphins administer drugs like Tagamet for ulcers. Relate the acoustic nature of dolphins to the stress they encounter in captivity.

Dolphins travel so much farther in the wild but are confined to small spaces in captivity

Summarize his criticisms. Which arguments do you feel are valid? Do these change your opinion of the documentary and the actions of the fishermen?

I do think that the idea of Westerners being hypocritical in the treatment of cows and other animals is a very valid point. I do however think that he was a bit too harsh in the critique of the documentary. By highlighting one animal's issues, others might be inspired to take the same actions for all types of animals.

How is the secret killing lagoon like a natural fortress?

It's surrounded by steep cliffs on three sides and several tunnels with razor wire on it.

What are some of the symptoms of mercury poisoning in adults?

Memory loss, loss of eyesight

Within a population, who is most vulnerable to the effects of mercury poisoning?

Pregnant women

Ric describes the attempts to document and expose the dolphin hunting practices at Taiji as a "game of cat and mouse". Explain what he means by that.

The activists got arrested and can never come back to the place. It's a cat and mouse game because no one is able to film what is in the cove, and everyone in Japan is trying to arrest them.

Describe three changes claimed as a result of the filming of the documentary.

The deputy for fishermen has been fired, private space has been fired, there is no more dolphin meat being served to children.

Does this documentary stereotype the Japanese? What groups or organizations does the author believe the documentary should have interviewed to be more balanced?

The documentary portrays almost every Japanese person as the "bad guys" and only focuses on that one nation alone without hearing their side of the story. The author believes that local fishing communities, other whaling nations, and an examination of the IWC's policies needed to be undertook, rather than just one sides perspective.

Richard "Ric" Barry caught and trained female dolphins for the Flipper TV show. What first gave him the impression that dolphins were self-aware and exceptionally intelligent?

The dolphin could tell the difference between herself and the other dolphin

Describe the footage captured by the hidden cameras around the cove.

The men were all gathered in the cove and they cornered the dolphins, and speared them.

How do Taiji fishermen use the acoustic nature of dolphins as a tool to catch them? What happens to the caught dolphins?

They bang on poles with hammers which, due to the dolphins amazing sense of hearing, causes them to be terrified and run from the sound.

What form of propaganda is employed by the dolphin fishery in Taiji that the two city council members object to?

They gave the dolphin meat to Japanese children for free in the school system

A tremendous amount of money is behind the hunting at Taiji. How much is a dead dolphin worth as meat? What is a live show dolphin worth?

They get 600 for a dead dolphin, but more than 150,000 for a live show one.

Describe three tools developed by the crew to record what occurs in the lagoon.

They made an unmanned drone, A yellow small helicopter, and hidden rocks.

Explain how Japan has used small developing countries to manipulate the decision-making of the IWC.

They pay them and offer them financial support of help continue with their whaling

At one point, the fishermen were offered a subsidy that would have matched their pay for hunting the dolphins. What reason did they give for turning down this offer?

They said it's not about the money they get, it's about pest control

Fishermen in Taiji describe dolphin hunting as a tradition. What counter-argument do the conservationists present?

They say it is a tradition but no one in the city knows that it is happening outside of a few small villages.

One analysis of dolphin meat conducted for the documentary showed a contamination of 2000 parts per million (ppm). Why is dolphin meat more likely to contain mercury than other species?

They swim in toxic dump cites