Star of dolphin-killing film detained at Japan airport

Tokyo - The star of an Oscar-winning documentary about dolphin killings in Japan has been detained by immigration authorities at an airport near Tokyo.

Ric O'Barry is the former dolphin trainer for the "Flipper" TV series and star of "The Cove." The film shows the slaughter of dolphins herded into a cove in the coastal fishing village of Taiji. He was barred entry early on Tuesday.

Immigration officials say it is their policy not to comment on individual cases. O'Barry's lawyer Takashi Takano says he has appealed the decision.

He said immigration officials at Narita airport say O'Barry is not a tourist, the visa he was using to enter Japan.

O'Barry told Takano that the officials accused him of having close relations with anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, which O'Barry denies.