Japan’s Latest Whale Kill Draws Criticism

Of the 333 minke whales they killed in the Antarctic, 230 were females—of which 209 were pregnant—and 103 were males.

An adult and sub-adult Minke whale are dragged aboard a Japanese whaling vessel in 2008. The photo was taken by Australian customs agents, under a surveillance effort to collect evidence of indiscriminate harvesting. Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

Japanese whalers last week brought back 333 whales from their “scientific research” expedition in Antarctic waters—their first since an international court ruling that deemed their annual Antarctic whaling program illegal. 

Japan defied the ruling and sent out four ships on Dec. 1, 2015, saying they needed to kill whales to gain important scientific data.

Of the 333 minke whales killed, 230 were females—of which 209 were pregnant—and 103 were males, according to Japan’s Fisheries Agency.

Japan simply ignores international law ... and continues to slaughter whales with impunity.

— Paul Watson, founder advisor, Sea Shepherd