Whale Protection

Animal Planet offers the best series for animal lovers everywhere. But since 2008, one show has taken particular focus in the public eye. “Whale Wars” follows the efforts of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to put an end to illegal whaling- with a particular focus on Japanese whaling.Captain Paul Watson and his crew have three ships for their expeditions, the Steve Irwin, the Bob Barker and the Ady Gil. The last of these ships is a recent addition, and easily, their best ship. The Ady Gil had “twin 540 horsepower engines and stealth radar-scattering paint” (“Whale Wars” site). The Ady Gil sank after impact with a Japanese ship earlier this year, but no one was seriously harmed.However, the sinking of the Ady Gil is only part of the heart stopping and dangerous endeavors the “Whale Wars” cast undergo. From hitting Japanese boats, to actually sneaking on to their ships, Paul Watson and his crew leave no method unturned. In-fact, on the final episode of season one, the crew launches acidic bombs at one the Japanese’s largest whaling ships.The Sea Shepherd society’s efforts have put their lives in danger more than once. Season two offered particularly hair-raising events, from possible Anthrax attacks to getting trapped by sheets of ice; there have been plenty of threats to the life of the crew.Despite the constant danger Paul and the Sea Shepherds face, their dedication to whale protection keeps them fighting year after year. You can watch “Whale Wars” every Friday at 9pm until the season finale on August 27^th. And while that’s just around the corner, no worries, they’ll be back next year.