Outrage after Japanese hunters catch 333 whales and kill 122 pregnant minkes in four month 'field survey'
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Japanese hunters have sparked outrage after they caught 333 whales and killed 122 of them while pregnant, during a four month 'field survey'.
The shocking figures were revealed in a report by the Asian country's New Scientific Whale Research Program in the Antarctic Ocean.
The team's mission saw 181 females and 152 males captured, with 53 of the former and 61 of the latter not yet full grown adult minkes.
Minkle whales are common in the Antarctic and measure up to 35ft in length, with a lifespan of up to 60 years.
Although Japan claims it's much-criticised whaling programme is for scientific purposes, the UN branded it as "lethal research" four years ago.
(Image: Reuters)
(Image: Getty Images)
Whale meat from the expeditions are sold for consumption, with the country arguing it's part of their cultural traditions.
The report, however, states that: "The two main Objectives of NEWREP-A are I) Improvements in the precision of biological and ecological information for the application of the RMP to the Antarctic minke whales, and II) Investigation of the structure and dynamics of the Antarctic marine ecosystem through building ecosystem models."
(Image: Reuters)
Conservations have condemned the practice and the latest figures.
“The killing of 122 pregnant whales is a shocking statistic and sad indictment on the cruelty of Japan’s whale hunt," said Alexia Wellbelove, Senior Program Manager at Humane Society International/Australia.
"It is further demonstration, if needed, of the truly gruesome and unnecessary nature of whaling operations, especially when non-lethal surveys have been shown to be sufficient for scientific needs.
(Image: Reuters)
“Whales are already facing substantial threats including bycatch in fisheries and marine pollution.
"Significant conservation efforts are underway worldwide to address these issues, so the least Japan could do is put away the harpoons.
“The continued killing of any whales is abhorrent to modern society, but these new figures make it even more shocking.
(Image: Reuters)
"We look forward to Australia and other pro-conservation countries sending the strongest possible message to Japan that it should stop its lethal whaling programs.”
The full details of the 18 page report, as submitted to the International Whaling Commission, are available here .