1st of all, I don't desire to flood you all with updates, so this will be the last for a while. I feel it's important you're made aware of the progress with this petition and recent news from Taiji. Over 35,000 compassionate, loving people like YOU have signed in just over a week since I posted this! I've been in tears for 2 days watching live coverage of the cove via Dolphin Project and reading all of your powerful, heartfelt comments. I want to personally thank the beautiful actress Ms. Jackie Zeman, known for her role as Bobbie Spencer on the daytime hit soap General Hospital, for tweeting the link to this petition on Twitter. She's just set herself miles apart from many by using her celebrity to speak for the voiceless. I'm so grateful Ms. Zeman! I'd also like to thank those of you that have paid to promote this cause! (I didn't even know that was possible) You are all such compassionate people! For those of you who aren't aware, a large pod of 80-120 Bottlenose dolphins were cruelly rounded up 2 days ago in Taiji along with another pod of Rissos. They were left in the cove overnight without access to food. Yesterday, trainers were videotaped/audiotaped negotiating prices for dolphins. One disturbing audio feed recorded this, "These two are mother and baby. Which one do you want? Do you want both?” The trainer replied, "I'll take the baby." Also, the pod from the 1st drive of the season, juvenile pilot whales rounded up last week have been confined in the cove for over 36 hours with no access to food. Cove Monitors have documented several juveniles in the pod, along with a baby, quite possibly a newborn. Via Dolphin Project: https://dolphinproject.net/blog/post/sold-into-servitude-ill-take-the-baby/ That baby bottlenose is being ripped away from its' mother, and will more than likely die of the trauma within week of it's capture. The mother's inevitable fate is the unfathomable, a vile, inhumane slaughter while grieving the loss of her calf. This is absolutely inexcusable! Meanwhile, SeaWorld tweeted a video around this time of their 5 new captive babies, "We dare you to not smile at the sight of these bottle-nosed bundles of joy" tweeted 9/16/16 at 7:00PM. I was floored at how distasteful that was, and the poor timing due to what was happening in the bloody Taiji cove. No doubt, the trainers buying dolphins yesterday were members of IMATA. As of yesterday, 24 bottlenose dolphins have been taken captive. It seems this petition has gone viral - I'm not entirely sure how that's happened, but you are all responsible! THANK YOU! This issue is one I'm extremely passionate about, and I know without a doubt, we can stop this if enough people sign. I protested on 9/1 at the Japanese Consulate in downtown Denver and I was surprised how many people don't know this even occurs in Japan. SeaWorld needs to prove they really care and are truly committed to conservation and rescue, and actually do something to spare these dolphins lives! No more lip service! NOW is the time for them show the world they are sincere. LETS KEEP THIS GOING in time for the IMATA conference in November. If Joel Manby is wise and concerned about SeaWorld's sinking ship, he'll act! Thanks again for your loving support and comments! Warm Regards, Ori Weir