VIDEO: Trapped dolphin throws itself on shore to escape Japanese hunters

A heartbreaking video of a trapped, and likely dying, dolphin throwing itself on shore in a vain attempt to flee from hunters is making the rounds on the internet.

The video, which was posted on Sunday, has already garnered more than 700,000 views and reignited discussions regarding Taiji, Japan’s tradition of hunting dolphins. The controversial practice was first introduced to the world at large with the equally controversial documentary “The Cove.”

Not so coincidentally, the viral video was filmed by activist Ric O’Barry, who starred in “The Cove.”

“Here is a dolphin right in front of us panic-stricken trying to find a way out” O’Barry says as he points out an injured and frightened dolphin. “If I get into the water and try and help this animal I will be arrested immediately.”

“This is anguish,” O’Barry Laments as the dolphin washes up on the rocks of the shore tearing up it’s body as it struggles.

According to O’Barry’s activist website DolphinProject.net “When ‘The Cove’ documentary was being made, the number of annual permits issued [to hunt dolphins] at that time was more than 23,000. Almost 2,000 of these may be killed in the dolphin drive hunt in Taiji, also known as the ‘drive fishery.’”

While the total number of dolphin killings have declined over the years, web sites like SaveJapanDolphins.org explain that extraneous events like the Tsunami of 2011, which destroyed many of the ports used to hunt have contributed to this decline.

You can watch the entire video below: