submitted on Thu, 11/01/2007 - 21:16 in Save The Dolphins Niche by BossyDiva 
Heroes Star Tries to Stop Killing of Dolphins
Actress and committed Marine Hayden conservationist Panettiere came close to being hurt herself when she bravely confronted a group of Japanese fishermen about to cull dolphins.
Hero Hayden, Fisherman Hit her and fellow surfers With a Boathook
Hayden and her 5 surfer friends paddled out on a surfboard to try and stop the dolphins being driven into a nearby cove and killed.
But the surfers were cut off by a fishing boat before they could reach the dolphins.
The fishermen used the boat's propellers to block their way and at one point struck out with a boathook.
It was an ugly and potentially life-threatening confrontation that lasted more than 10 minutes before the surfers were forced to return to the beach.
It is believed that the dolphins were later taken into the cove and killed.
Panettiere, who is a active supporter of the campaign to save the Japan dolphins, said: "It was really frightening.
"Some of us were hit by the boathook. But in the end all we really worried about was the dolphins.
"It was so incredibly sad. We were so close to them and they were sky hopping, jumping out of the water to see us.
Reduced to she added:"One little baby dolphin stuck his head out and kinda looked at me and the thought that it's no longer with us is really hard to take."
After the incident Hayden and the other surfers (from USA and Australia) promptly left the country to avoid arrest for trepass by the Japanese police.
Dolphin drive hunting, also called dolphin drive fishing, is a method of hunting dolphins by driving them together with boats and then usually into a bay or onto a beach. Their escape is prevented by closing off the route to the open sea or ocean with boats and nets. Dolphins are hunted this way in several places around the world. Dolphins are mostly hunted for their meat; some are captured and end up in marine parks.
Despite the controversial nature of the hunt resulting in international criticism and the possible health risk that the often polluted meat causes, more than 22,000 dolphins are slaughtered by fishermen in Japan every year. The hunt continues despite worldwide condemnation.
Article submitted by justonetvnewswatch
