Japan starts controversial dolphin hunt

YOSHIKAZU TSUNO / AFP

Japan has started its controversial annual dolphin hunt in the coastal town of Taij.

The hunt, which sees boats round the animals into a bay to be butchered or captured for aquariums, has drawn fierce criticism from animal-rights groups.

In fact, it was documented in the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove in 2009.

The six-month season reportedly ends in March.

It comes as Japan resumed commercial whaling this year. 

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