14 DAY TRIAL // The anti-whaling operations developed by Sea Shepherd activities have recently taken a dangerous turn. Three of the crew members boarded on Steve Irwin vessel suffered minor injuries while trying to deal with the Japanese whale hunters.
The three volunteers are the first victims recorded during this hunt season. The incident took place 300 miles north of Mawson Peninsula off the George V Land coast of Antarctica, while the Japanese Yushin Maru No. 2 kept tailing the Steve Irwin.
"The Japanese whalers have escalated their aggression by throwing iron grappling hooks at Sea Shepherd boats. Two Steve Irwin crew were struck in the shoulder with iron grappling hooks and one crewmember was struck twice in the face with a long bamboo pole," explained a Sea Shepherd representative.
It seems that the Japanese hunters are far from being intimidated by the efforts of conservationists struggling to blast their mission. Even under these circumstances, the annual tradition, criticized by environmentally friendly organizations all across the Globe, could carry on as planned.
As a result of his commitment to stop the whalers at any costs, American activist Brian Race, 25, was jabbed twice in the face with a bamboo pole. He now has lacerations above his right eye and on his nose. At the same time, Russell Bergh, a cameraman for Animal Planet, was injured with an iron grappling hook and got a few bruises to remind him of this ugly experience for a while.
Photographer Guillaume Collet from France was also harmed by an iron grappling hook thrown from the harpoon vessel of the enemy. Nevertheless, all the Japanese hunters are unharmed and most likely motivated to complete their annual operation.
"We are almost at the limit of the eastern boundary of their self assigned hunting area. We should be getting close," stated Captain Watson.
Even if the anti-whaling mission has so far been delayed by heavy seas and minor injuries, Sea Shepherd activists plan to do everything in their power to stop the Japanese crew from disrupting the balance of the ecosystem.