Japanese fleet out to kill humpbacks

by ppeggy | November 17, 2007 at 02:09 pm

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Honestly, this just makes me sick. The Japanese have decided there are enough whales now so they can get out there and kill, kill, kill. Why? Well, it's not for the money, says Hidei Moronuki, the Japanese whaling chief. Oh no. The meat will be sold commercially, but it's not for the money. Guess what the reason is, folks. Research. Yep, Mr. Moronuki says that having dead whales around allows marine biologists to study their internal organs. You never know what you'll find there. Take a look at the ovaries. You'll get some clues to their reproductive systems. Stomach contents will reveal what they've eaten. And don't forget the earwax. Whale earwax tells you how old they were. Well, we sure need to know that!

Why are the Japanese really so determined to kill these amazing, intelligent creatures? Surely there are lots of other things to use for dogfood and cooking oil. Is it because they are so big? Is it because they just don't like whales? Is it for fun and sport? It's not for profit, don't forget. Then why?!! What in the heck is wrong with the human race that it needs to kill and kill and kill?

Japan's whaling fleet will leave port soon for the South Pacific with orders to kill up to 50 humpbacks -- the first known large-scale hunt for the whales since a 1963 moratorium put them under international protection.

The Fisheries Agency has refused to release the fleet's departure date. But the lead whaling ship's operator, Kyodo Senpaku Ltd., said the fleet was scheduled to set sail from the southern city of Shimonoseki on Sunday.

The ships, led by the 8,030-ton Nisshin Maru, will embark on their largest scientific whale hunt in the South Pacific. Besides humpbacks, they will take up to 935 Antarctic minke whales and up to 50 fin whales.