In this Sept. 16, 2015 photo released by DolphinProject.com, Ric O’Barry checks the status of Angel the dolphin at the Taiji Whale Museum in Taiji, Wakayama prefecture, western Japan.Japan has ordered the deportation of the star of the Oscar-winning documentary “The Cove,” about a dolphin-killing village in Japan. O’Barry was detained upon arrival Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 at Tokyo’s Narita international airport. Japanese authorities decided Friday, Jan. 22 to turn down his appeal to get into the country, according to his son. (DolphinProject.com via AP)
TOKYO— Japan has ordered the deportation of the star of the Oscar-winning documentary “The Cove,” about a dolphin-killing village in Japan.
Ric O’Barry, the former dolphin trainer for the “Flipper” TV series was detained upon arrival Monday at Tokyo’s Narita international airport.
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.
READ: ‘The Cove’ dolphin activist Ric O’Barry detained in Japan—supporters
Immigration officials said they cannot comment on individual cases.
Ric O’Barry has refused the deportation order and was being transported to another detention facility near Narita airport, his son said.
O’Barry heads Dolphin Project, dedicated to the protection of dolphins worldwide.