Graphic pictures of Japanese hunters harpooning whales and dragging their carcasses aboard a ship near Antarctica were evidence of “indiscriminate” slaughter, Australia said today.

A government minister said today Japan’s whaling fleet was heading towards New Zealand-controlled waters in Antarctica, in breach of an agreement to remain in Australian waters during this year’s whale hunt.

Two activists who jumped on board a Japanese whaling boat off Antarctica have been returned to their ship by Australian officials.

TWO anti-whaling activists who boarded a Japanese harpoon ship in a protest were last night transferred to an Australian vessel.

Two anti-whaling activists, one a Briton, who boarded a Japanese harpoon ship in a protest were tonight transferred to an Australian vessel.

An Australian judge today banned the company that conducts Japan’s whale hunt from killing the animals in a large part of its regular hunting grounds off Antarctica.

An anti-whaling group’s boat collided twice with a Japanese whale-spotting vessel in Antarctic waters today, tearing a three-foot gash in the protest ship, the Sea Shepherd conservation group said.

The Japanese whaling fleet is preparing to sail to an Antarctic hunting ground despite low demand for whale meat, wildlife campaigners warned today.

Environmental group Greenpeace said today that it would continue hounding Japan’s whaling fleet despite a damaging collision between the whalers and a protest ship.

Environmental group Greenpeace today said that Japanese whalers used high-powered water cannons against its chase boats in a confrontation in Antarctic waters.