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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

122 Pregnant Whales Were Killed in Japan's Latest Hunt. Was This Illegal? [nytimes.com]

More than 120 pregnant female whales were among 333 killed during Japan's recent annual summer hunt off the coast of Antarctica, according to a new report.

The report [hsi.org.au], released by the International Whaling Commission this month, said 122 of the slaughtered minke whales were pregnant and 114 were considered immature.

The last hunting season in the Antarctic for Japan ran from Dec. 8 to Feb. 28.

Conservationists said the new report was further evidence that Japan was killing whales for commercial purposes under the guise of scientific research.

Whether the annual hunt is legal is unclear, as some federal and international laws are in conflict with one another.

Also at BBC [bbc.com] and Smithsonian Magazine [smithsonianmag.com].

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