“The Cove” Star Deported From Japan Over Dolphin Activism

Jan 21, 2016

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Japan has ordered the deportation of Ric O’Barry, the former dolphin trainer for the “Flipper” TV series and the star of the Oscar-winning documentary “The Cove,” about a village in Japan that annually corrals migrating dolphins into a cove before slaughtering them.

O’Barry, was detained by Japanese immigration officials upon arrival Monday at Tokyo’s Narita international airport.

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Japanese authorities decided Friday to turn down his appeal to get into the country, according to his son, Lincoln O’Barry. His son and lawyer say immigration officials accuse O’Barry of lying during questioning and having ties to anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, both of which O’Barry denies. Ric O’Barry has refused the deportation order and was being transported to another detention facility near Narita airport, his son said. h/t abcnews

Former dolphin-trainer Ric O'Barry speaks while showing a newspaper reporting about his action during a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo, Japan, Monday, Sept. 6, 2010. O'Barry, the star of the Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove" about the Japanese dolphin hunt, said that activists trying to stop the killing might need to back off and allow the Japanese people to tackle the issue themselves. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Immigration officials said they cannot comment on individual cases.