Greenpeace in bid to save humpbacks

Environmental campaigners are hoping to convince Japan they do not need to kill humpback whales in order to study them.

The experiment comes as Japan plans, for the first time, to hunt 50 humpbacks in the Antarctic over the next few months in the southern hemisphere.

Greenpeace researchers are using satellite devices to track 19 of the creatures from their breeding grounds in the South Pacific back to Antarctic waters.

The scientists plan is to gather enough data on them, including their movement and habitat use, so people can actually monitor individual whales on their website.

Mammologist Igor Geyer, who is heading the team, said: "It is a difficult job because we have to get close to the whales enough to deploy the tags in a very good position.

"To do that we have to go really really softly and slow and as soon as we get the right spot we deploy the tag right below the dorsal fin."

Also in Japan's line of fire are 935 minke whales, to be killed for scientific research.

Critics of the cull claim most of the whale meat ends up in Japanese supermarkets and that Japan rarely publishes its scientific findings.

Greenpeace is also planning to send an anti-whaling protest ship out to try and protect the minke whales.

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