Another row has blown up over Japan’s ongoing whaling mission, this time over gorey photos of a catch released by the Australian government.
“I guess when I saw the photos I just felt a bit of a sick feeling as well as a sense of sadness,” said Australia’s ex-rock star environment minister (The Times and others). “It’s very disappointing. It’s distressing when you think that it can take up to 15 minutes after a harpoon actually hits a whale for the whale to die. It’s even sadder when you consider there’s a calf involved.”
Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research has denied that the photo, taken by customs vessel the Oceanic Viking actually shows a mother and calf.
“The photographs taken by the Oceanic Viking and which major Australian newspapers published today shows two minke whales, but they are not a mother and her calf as claimed by the media. Our research program requires random sampling of the Antarctic population, and therefore there will be a range of sizes,” says Minoru Morimoto, director general of the ICR (press release).
This statement was interpreted thus by The Advertiser: Japan: We kill them all. Other news media in Oz and across the world have also weighed in. The Australian public is certainly all fired up.
Australian experts have insisted the smaller whale was a calf. The only thing up for debate is whether they are related, says Peter Harrison, director of Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre. “Only the Oceanic Viking crew can say whether they were together when they were killed – but it doesn’t matter. It’s completely inappropriate to kill a baby,” he told The Australian.
The Oceanic Viking is gathering evidence for an Australian legal challenge to the hung. Laywers have told the Austrailan though that the pictures will not be decisive.
A new poll conducted by the Asahi newspaper in Japan found 65% of people want Japan’s whaling to continue, with 56% of Japanese supporting eating whale meat and 26% are opposed. On a related note the Sidney Morning Herald says the Japanese are horrified that Australians eat “tiny, trembling lambs”.
Finally, more bad news for whale lovers. Norway has authorised a take of 1,052 whales in 2008 (AFP).
Images: Australian Customs