When a Dolphin Goes Solo… and a Navy of Penguins Back‑up
Unknown – A once‑spectacular aquarium in Choshi, just east of Tokyo, now looks like a scene from a ghost town. A lone bottlenose dolphin, affectionately dubbed Honey, and a squad of 46 penguins are left to survive in a crumbling facility that’s been shut for months.
How It Started
- Honey was snatched from the waters near Taiji in 2005 – a town infamous for its dolphin hunt that the 2009 Oscar‑winning film The Cove exposed.
- Japanese marine parks used to buy dolphins straight from Taiji, an arrangement that had to be canceled after the film caused a media outcry.
- In 2011, the 2011 earthquake, then the nuclear crisis, sent a wave of tourists squeezing off the beaches, forcing the Inubosaki Marine Park to close.
- Despite the shutdown, Honey, the penguins, and a whole bunch of fish and reptiles were left inside.
Inside the Ghost‑Aquarium
Unofficial photos reveal Honey bobbing in a puddle‑sized pool, looking like a soggy SpongeBob having a bad day. And the penguins? Dust‑covered, perched on a tower that looks more like a post‑apocalyptic art exhibit than a habitat.
Staff have been feeding the animals, but the videos taken from outside show a quiet, strained scene. One activist noted that Honey was showing signs of stress, head bobbing weakly in and out of the water.
The Silence That’s A Big Deal
Repeated emails and calls to the park’s management fell on deaf ears. A city official reported that even the park’s own parent company couldn’t be reached.
“The lack of transparency feels like a ticking time‑bomb,” said a local activist from the group Peace (Put an End to Animal Cruelty and Exploitation). “If you’re handling living beings, you’ve got to explain what’s gonna happen next.”
Social Media Takes a Stand
Hashtags like #SaveHoney exploded on Twitter, turning the abandoned animals’ plight into a viral cause. A resort hotel even offered to give them a new home, triggering a wave of retweets and comments.
“I beg the authorities to get in close contact with each other and push ahead with this,” one Twitter user wrote, while others shouted for rescue plans that are less “shut down” and more “save and thrive.”
Call to Action
With emotions running high, the public is demanding a solution that will bring this dolphin and the penguins back to life – literally and figuratively. Whether it’s a new sanctuary, a rescue operation, or a public statement from the park’s owners, the hope is that nothing gets left behind.
