September 1st marks the start of Taiji’s notoriously cruel dolphin drive hunts. The 6-month long season is set to run now through the end of February, 2026. At the time of this posting, Japan Fisheries Agency (JFA) has NOT yet published this season’s hunting quota.
HELP SPEAK OUT AGAINST THESE HUNTS ➡️ https://bit.ly/HelpJapansDolphins (🔗 in our bio)
As exposure of the hunts has grown, the numbers of dolphins captured or killed in these hunts has declined significantly.
80+ captive dolphin facilities have closed globally, and a growing number of countries have banned importing Taiji’s dolphins or have banned/are phasing out cetacean captivity altogether. Plus, a growing number of Japanese advocates and organizations are taking positive action to protect Japan’s dolphins - a huge step forward after years of government actors, hunters and media in Japan shielding the public from complete awareness of the hunts.
The captivity industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, and is the main economic drive of the hunts. It’s up to all of us to continue taking action all over the world to help see and end to the global captive dolphin trade, and to end Taiji’s notoriously cruel hunts and captures. Keep speaking up for dolphins!
#DolphinProject #dolphin #dolphins #thanksbutnotanks #thecove
A deep dive into sea turtle rehabilitation at the @umah_lumba Center 🌊🐢
The Umah Lumba Center forms an incredible partnership with the Ministry of Forestry and Environment of the Republic of Indonesia, BKSDA Bali, Dolphin Project, Jakarta Animal Aid Network, and the West Bali National Park. Together, we built Umah Lumba, the world’s only permanent dolphin rehabilitation, release and retirement facility for ex-performing dolphins. And we are pleased expand our efforts to aid and turtles, including endangered and critically endangered species! 🌎🐬🐢
➡️ One way you can help is by symbolically adopting a turtle at: https://bit.ly/AdoptATurtleDP (🔗 in our bio!)
#seaturtle #turtles #animals #animalrescue #wildlife
The global captive dolphin and whale trade is a multi-billion dollar industry. As long as there is demand (and governments that allow it), dolphins and whales will continue to suffer in captivity. It’s up to ALL of us to continue taking positive action to bring end to this exploitation.
➡️ The EASIEST way you can help is pledge NOT to buy a tickets to any facility that displays captive dolphins or whales: https://bit.ly/TakeTheDolphinPledge (petition 🔗 in our bio!)
More ways to help, how we are fighting to end dolphin and whale exploitation, and progress made at DolphinProject.org 🌎 🐬
#dolphinproject #emptythetanks #dolphin #whale #animals #dolphins #thanksbutnotanks #aquarium
BREAKING: After years in captivity, their future should not be another concrete pool. Wikie and Keijo are the last two orcas left at Marineland Antibes.
They do not need a new venue.
They need a real plan for a life beyond performance.
👉 Read the full blog: “Wikie and Keijo May be Sent to Loro Parque”
🔗 link in bio
#DolphinProject #Orcas #Dolphins #Blog #Captivity
Fourteen years ago, Empty the Tanks began as a peaceful movement to be a voice for dolphins and whales in captivity. Today, that movement continues to grow because of every single person who showed up, spoke out, shared our message, and stood for change.
We are so grateful to everyone who participated in this year’s events around the world and helped raise awareness for the dolphins. Change takes persistence, compassion, and momentum and together, we are making progress.
Thank you for standing with us and helping push for a future where no dolphin is exploited for entertainment.
🔗 in bio for more info!
Over the weekend, activists and advocates gathered at 38 locations worldwide to unite our voices against the dolphin and whale captivity industry for 2026’s #EmptyTheTanksWorlwide event.
THANK YOU so much to all who showed up and took positive action!
Pictured here are:
📍 Spain
Rancho Texas
Loro Parque
📍 Germany
Duisburg Zoo
📍 South Africa
Durban
📍 Hong Kong
Ocean Park
📍 United States
L.A., California
📍 Mexico
Durango
Please continue to share your event photos with us!!
#emptythetanks #dolphinproject #dolphin #dolphins
Hooray Canada!
Canada’s new 2026 protections raise the approach distance for Southern Resident orcas to 1,000 metres. That is a major step toward giving this endangered population the breathing room it needs.
👉 Read the full blog: “Stronger Protections for Orcas in Canada” (🔗 link in bio)
#DolphinProject #Animals #Dolphins #Blog #WildlifeProtection
Thank you so much to ALL showing up and advocating for an end to dolphin and whale captivity this weekend for the 2026 #EmptyTheTanksWorldwide event!
Pictured here are events at:
📍 Australia
Coffs Coast Wildlife “Sanctuary”, Coffs Harbour
Sea World Gold Coast, Queensland
📍 Belgium
Boudewijn Seapark, Brugge
📍 Canada
Toronto, Ontario
📍 Germany
Duisburg Zoo
📍 Japan
Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture
📍 Mexico
Vallarta
📍 Spain
Loro Parque, Tenerife
Rancho Texas, Lanzarote
📍 United Kingdom
SEA LIFE London Aquarium, London
TUI Office, Manchester
📍 United States
Atlanta Aquarium, Georgia
SeaWorld Orlando, Florida
SeaWorld San Diego, California
Seattle, Washington
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, California
Please tag us, or message us with your event photos if you would like them to be shared!
#EmptyTheTanks
#DolphinProject #dolphin #animals
On May 5, a sperm whale was stranded on Melaya Beach, trapped in shallow waters since 2 PM.
Our team received this report at 4 PM, but by the time we arrived, the whale had already passed away.
This heartbreaking loss is a reminder of how critical fast reporting and rapid response truly are. Early action can mean the difference between life and death for stranded marine mammals.
Together with KKP, Polres Jembrana, Yayasan Wai, and local authorities, we conducted a necropsy and laid this beautiful gentle giant to rest.
Rest easy, gentle soul. 🖤🌊
#SaveMarineLife #WhaleStranding #OceanConservation #MarineMammals #Indonesia
8 MONTHS LATER — NOTHING HAS CHANGED AT MEDITERRANEO MARINE PARK.
Authorities promised action. The animals are still suffering.
This footage was captured in April 2026 at Mediterraneo Marine Park in Malta.
Eight months after authorities inspected the facility and pledged improvements, five dolphins and Junior — an elderly solitary sea lion in declining health — remain trapped in the same deteriorating conditions.
There is still no adequate shade. The tanks remain dirty, damaged, and visibly neglected, while authorities continue to stay silent despite repeated warnings and concerns raised by NGOs.
No meaningful improvements have been made. The animals are still confined inside crumbling concrete enclosures with no clear plan for urgent intervention.
How much longer will these animals be left to suffer while those responsible look away?
This is not welfare. This is neglect.
Join us in demanding action and speaking out for these animals who have been left without a voice.
Send your concerns to:
[email protected]
Empty the Tanks 🌊
It’s time the captivity industry stop using us children to justify their greed and cruelty. Together this weekend, let’s raise awareness to end cetacean captivity for good! 🐬✨
Together, we can create a world where every fish, turtle, penguin, dolphin, shark, orca and whale lives wild and free 🌍💙
From Taiji, Japan, where the fight against dolphin hunts is fierce, to marine parks around the globe, our mission is clear: these intelligent and majestic creatures deserve to swim in their natural habitats, not confined to tanks.
Share and help spread the word! #emptythetanks #captivitykills #dontbuyaticket 🌊📢
There is a difference between giving customers information and guiding them toward a sale.
When TUI uses dreamy language like “once in a lifetime” and “must do” to promote captive dolphin experiences, it is NOT staying neutral. It is packaging captivity as joy, turning suffering into a holiday memory, and calling it choice.
The tourists get one moment. The dolphins get a lifetime of confinement.
👉 Read the full blog: “Tui’s “Choice” Argument Leaves Dolphins with None” (link in bio)
#DolphinProject #Animals #Dolphins #Blog #EndCaptivity
