Humane Society International applauded a landmark decision on Jan. 15 from the Australian Federal Court that could save hundreds of whales from Japanese harpoons. The Federal Court ruled that a Japanese whaling company, Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha, is violating Australian law by killing whales in the Australian Whale Sanctuary. Responding to a Federal Court action filed by HSI-Australia, the court ordered an immediate halt to further whaling
The Japanese whaling company has authorization from the Japanese government to kill 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales in Antarctica this summer. Based on records of previous hunts, about 90 percent of these whales will be killed in the Australian Whale Sanctuary.
"This ruling marks the beginning of the end of Japan's cruel and illegal whaling program in the Australian Whale Sanctuary," said Patricia Forkan, president of HSI. "It is time for the Japanese government and Kyodo Senpaku to end this grisly practice once and for all."
The suit by Humane Society International marks the first time Japan has ever been called to account for its outlaw whaling program in a domestic court. HSI intends to serve the judgment at the company's headquarters in Tokyo immediately, and will work with the Australian government to ensure that this critically important ruling is fully implemented and enforced.
Copies of the Federal Court judgment and the Australian Labor Party's election commitment to enforce any injunction handed down by the court can be obtained from www.hsi.org.au.
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