‘Australia’s shocking evidence backs up legal bid’

AUSTRALIA has “shocking” photographic evidence to back an international legal bid to stop Japanese whaling in Antarctic waters, the government said yesterday.

One picture reportedly showing a mother whale and her calf being dragged aboard a Japanese whaler after being harpooned was described as sickening by Environment Minister Peter Garrett.

“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,” he said.