The Sydney Morning Herald: national, world, business, entertainment, sport and technology news from Australia's leading newspaper.

Whale Watch

Rudd 'weak' on whaling

The Greens slam decision not to monitor Japanese whaling fleet this summer.

Japan's fading appetite for a fight

Tomohiko Taniguchi, the official voice of Japan for the last three years, now says Japan has nil national interest in the whaling industry, writes Peter Hartcher.

Australia and Japan at odds over whaling

Australia and Japan still don't see eye-to-eye over whaling but they're determined not to let the problematic issue disrupt an otherwise strong relationship.

Plastic found in whale during post-mortem

Pieces of plastic found in a dead whale's stomach have prompted authorities to repeat a warning against marine litter.

DNA discovery shows dolphin one of a new breed

Australia has a new mammal. Scientists have discovered a previously unknown dolphin swimming in the nation's southern waters.

Garrett defends whaling research program

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has denied rushing through a $4 million anti-whaling package as a Japanese whaling fleet sets sail on its annual Antarctic hunt.

Whalers' factory ship back at sea

Japan's whaling fleet mother ship, Nisshin Maru, has slipped out of port on the way to a full-scale Antarctic hunt, despite repeated attempts by the Rudd Government to curtail the killing.

Australia's bid to lead world on whale research

Australia is using a $4 million program to expose farce of Japan's lethal so-called scientific research.

Research without death: $6m whale plan

The Federal Government will spend $6 million on a whale research program which it hopes will debunk Japan's claims that whales need to be killed in order to be studied.

Daryl Hannah to make splash for whales

A Hollywood actress and a video game are the latest weapons in the arsenal of anti-whaling group the Sea Shepherd.

Whaling target 'proves protests are working'

Opponents of Japanese whaling are pointing to a reported cut in the coming Antarctic season's quota as evidence that the struggling industry is in retreat.

Japan to cut whale kill to 750

Japan has set itself a target of killing 750 whales in the upcoming whaling season, federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett says.

Whales lose out as navy gets to keep sonar

The US Navy can use long-range sonar in exercises off California, the Supreme Court rules, dismissing arguments the practice was harmful to whales.

Japan's whaling industry in crisis: Greenpeace

The Japanese whaling industry's ability to catch whales in the Southern Ocean this summer will be compromised after the delisting of its vessel Oriental Bluebird, Greenpeace says.

Anti-whaling crusade struggles to stay afloat

Australia's anti-whaling crusade appears to have been harpooned with fewer ships to take on the Japanese whalers this summer.

A whale of a time

Author Chris Pash covers the success of Greenpeace's first campaign in Australia and the end of whaling in English-speaking countries.

Beached dolphin dies

Rescuers lose fight to save injured dolphin beached on the South Coast.

Greenpeace won't chase whalers

Greenpeace has decided against sending a ship to chase the Japanese whaling fleet in the Antarctic this summer.

Sea Shepherd gears up for whale season

Militant conservationists have promised to ramp up their campaign against Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean next month.

Search for humpback calf's mum scaled back

The search for a mother humpback whale, possibly stranded in a canal on the Gold Coast, continues after a calf was spotted in Moreton Bay.

Blue whale dies off Queensland coast

A 14-metre blue whale - the largest animal species on earth - is being towed to Townsville.

Whaling envoy in dialogue with Japan

The Government's new special envoy on whaling will try to persuade Japan to curtail its Antarctic whaling this summer.

Euthanased whale calf had fatal illnesses

A post-mortem examination reveals the baby humpback whale abandoned by its mother in Pittwater had pneumonia, emaciation and intestinal erosion.

Whale sanctuary becomes law in Chile

Chile has turned all of its Pacific Ocean territorial waters into a whale sanctuary.

Dolphins attacked with rocks

Authorities should throw the book at a group of youths who attacked a pod of dolphins in South Australia, Project Dolphin Safe president Aaron Machado says.

Entangled whale sets itself free

A whale that became caught in shark netting off the Gold Coast appears to have set itself free.

Beached humpback whale put down

West Australian environment officers have put down a juvenile humpback whale stranded on a beach near Jurien Bay.

Protest at Eritrea's whale vote

Strife-torn Eritrea has been recruited to the International Whaling Commission raising concerns of vote-buying.

Humpback whale rescued off Gold Coast

A young adult humpback whale that become entangled in shark control netting on the Gold Coast has been released by animal rescuers.

Whale thought to be tangled in shark net

A whale may have become entangled in a shark net off the Gold Coast, Queensland's Department of Primary Industries says.

Row over coastal test threat to whale routes

A fight is looming over an energy company's plan to use seismic tests to explore the coast between Sydney and Newcastle in search of coal under the seabed.

NZ sharks 'eat baby whales off Australia'

Scientists say New Zealand's great white sharks migrate to tropical waters off Australia and islands in the Pacific to feed on baby humpback whales.

Activists stage dolphin die-in

Activists dressed as dolphins have staged a die-in at the Japanese embassy in Washington to protest against butchery of the mammals.

Norway's whalers defend tradition

In the Lofoten Islands, the main base for Norway's whaling industry, hunters reject claims that consumers aren't buying whale meat.

Scientist rejects Japanese study on minke whales

An Australian marine scientist has dismissed Japanese research that the body mass of minke whales is declining because of increasingly scarce ocean resources.

Greens warn shark nets could harm whales

Shark nets could endanger whales and other marine animals such as turtles, dugongs and fur seals, says Ian Cohen.

Dead adult whale not Colette's mum

The dead humpback whale thought to be the mother of an abandoned calf is actually a male, the National Parks and Wildlife Service says.

Killing whales 'only way to measure weight loss'

Japanese scientists are claiming vindication for their controversial lethal research whaling with a discovery that Antarctic minke whales are fast growing thinner.

Albino whale doubles in size before journey

A snow white southern right whale calf frolicking in a West Australian bay has doubled in size within eight weeks of birth.

Don't pander to hysteria over whale calf: scientists

Eminent scientists say the death of baby humpback whales such as Colette is a reality of life in the wild.

Primal instinct behind whale grief

The outpouring of emotion at the plight of a baby humpback whale may be a vestige of a capacity from early in human evolution.

Mother found?

Wildlife workers have found a whale carcass off the NSW Far South Coast, the ABC reports.

Anger builds as whale's time runs out

Wildlife experts abused as decision made to put whale down.

Vets decide there is no hope for whale calf

The National Parks and Wildlife Service will kill the young whale stranded in Pittwater after its condition deteriorated rapidly yesterday afternoon.

Stranded whale to be put down

The baby humpback whale stranded in a Sydney waterway will be euthanased tonight.

Humans 'could be to blame for stranded calf'

A female humpback whale abandoning her three-week-old calf? Not likely, experts say.

Shark fear stops baby whale tow

Another meeting to be held to try to resolve baby whale dilemma.

Iemma says outlook bleak for whale calf

The outlook for the abandoned baby humpback whale dubbed Colin is "bleak", NSW Premier Morris Iemma says.

'Impossible' to look after stranded baby humpback

It is not physically possible to look after an abandoned humpback whale calf that is swimming alone and starving in Sydney's Pittwater, experts say.

Little chance of survival for whale calf

Vets last night were preparing to test the health of the humpback whale calf abandoned on Sydney's northern beaches.

Americans raised J.J. by hand

More than a decade ago US marine research workers spent more than a year hand-raising a newborn whale calf found beached near Los Angeles.

Judgment day for baby whale

Fate of abandoned humpback calf likely to be decided today.

Baby whale tries to suckle new boat

A lost baby humpback whale - weak, hungry and desperate to find its mother - has reportedly been trying to suckle another boat in Pittwater.

Prospects grim for abandoned baby whale

A baby whale apparently abandoned by its mother in waters just north of Sydney may be doomed to die within days.

Whale activists vow to fight Japan

Animal rights activists vowed no let-up in their campaign to stop Japan's whaling as reports today said Tokyo was seeking further arrests overseas of people who obstructed a hunt.

Japan seeks to arrest anti-whaling activists

Japanese police are pursuing arrest warrants against three activists from the US-based animal rights group Sea Shepherd for allegedly attacking Japanese whaling ships last year, an official said.

High fuel costs 'to kill off' Japanese whaling

Japanese whalers have been pursued by environmental activists through the Southern Ocean for years, but in an ironic twist, the rising cost of fuel could be their undoing.

Humpbacks making a comeback: report

Two whale species, the humpback and the southern right, are less under threat from becoming extinct, a new study released today shows.

Mum and calf have whale of a time at Bondi

Locals and tourists at Bondi today were treated to the rare sight of two whales, believed to be a mother and her calf, playing within 50 metres of the shore.

Three dolphin species call Darwin Harbour home

Darwin Harbour is not just for fishing or boating - it's also a dinner table, nursery and birthing suite.

Meat was not stolen: Japanese whalers

Japanese whalers say crew members accused of stealing whale meat have been cleared of any crime.

Greenpeace members charged over whale meat theft

Two activists are charged for stealing whale meat in a bid to uncover alleged corruption in Japan's whaling program.

Trailer trip saves beached whale

A killer whale beached near Auckland has been transported by road and released off the city's north shore.

Japan 'to spare humpbacks for another year'

Japan is ready to spare humpback whales from its Antarctic hunt for another year if international whaling talks make progress, a senior Japanese official says.

Peter Garrett a 'flop' at IWC

Environment Minister under fire for failing to make a dent in Japan's whaling program.

Japan shows whale slaughter to 10-year-olds

Children are watching whales being killed to learn the "cultural importance" of Japan's whaling industry.

Whaling truce shattered over humpbacks

The truce has been shattered in the deeply divided International Whaling Commission, with Denmark forcing - and losing - a vote over humpback whaling today.

Whale diplomacy the Japanese way

IN A cautious overture aimed at bridging the divide on whaling, Japan has called on its opponents to give a little ground so that it can move.

Painful recovery for giants of the deep

After four decades of official protection, Antarctic blue whales are slowly growing in number, writes Andrew Darby.

Humpback washes up after killer whales attack

A humpback whale, washed up on a West Australian beach, probably fell prey to a pack of killer whales.

Sea Shepherd activists blame Rudd Government

Mounting costs are forcing the anti-whaling activists of Sea Shepherd to shift their ship Steve Irwin from its Australian base in Melbourne, and leader Paul Watson claims the Federal Government is to blame.

Australia makes whaling truce with Japan

ALREADY under fire for weakening its stance against Japanese whaling, Australia has agreed to a deal that could muzzle it through the coming Antarctic season.

'Break from the past' in whaling dispute

Environment Minister Peter Garrett has described a decision to try to bridge the global divide over whaling taken in Santiago today as a break with the past.

Chile extends whaling ban as meeting eyes Japan

Chile has declared a permanent ban on whaling in its waters, as conservation groups fear Japan cannot be stopped.

Australia isolated and unhelpful in Chile: whalers

Australia is on its own in Chile by not offering any concessions, Japanese whalers say.

Whales-eat-fish theory debunked: researchers

Anti-whaling groups have delivered scientific data to the International Whaling Commission which they say debunks the theory that whales are behind declining fish stocks.

Rudd over-promised on whales, says Campbell

The Rudd Government has "over-promised" on its plan to stop Japanese whaling operations, an ex-environment minister says.

Take Japanese to court over whales: Brown

Greens leader Bob Brown has called on the Rudd Government to pursue court action against Japan.

Mystery of Japan's fin whale catch

Japanese stores have meat from more fin whales than the country's whalers reported catching.

Whales may die from heartbreak too

The most majestic of sea mammals have made little headway in recovering their once robust populations, say experts.

Humpbacks safe for another year: diplomat

Humpback whales should be safe from the harpoon for another summer, the International Whaling Commission chairman says.

Australia to seek reform of whaling commission

Australia will call for reform of the IWC during this week's meeting in Chile, the Foreign Minister says.

Envoy tries to cool whaling row

As passions rise over whaling, a special envoy is on a quiet mission to calm the debate, convinced that the International Whaling Commission cannot be allowed to collapse.

Fight to the death

The fate of whales could rest on a tiny poor country as Japan gathers in supporters for a crucial meeting, writes Andrew Darby.

Whaling by numbers

Any country can join the International Whaling Commission.

Sanctuary for whales could cross Atlantic

An attempt to make the entire South Atlantic a giant whale sanctuary is emerging as a test of hopes for compromise in the deeply split International Whaling Commission.

Greenpeace says Japanese members in custody

A Japanese court has decided to keep two Greenpeace members in custody for stealing whale meat.

Troubled waters ahead

The whaling issue is proving a delicate one for the Rudd Government, and the Environment Minister in particular, writes Michelle Grattan.

Australia to argue need for whale ban

Australia will warn of the dangers whales face from climate change and their potential to bring in tourist dollars.

International Whaling Commission to meet in Chile

The International Whaling Commission will meet in Chile next week to debate a possible resumption of commercial whaling.

Australia not compromising on whaling: Garrett

The Rudd Government says it will not soften its opposition to whaling at an international meeting in Chile next week.

Climate change threat to whales: study

The effect of climate change on the ecology of krill and whales in the Southern Ocean urgently needs monitoring, a group of Australian scientists warn.

Smith defends Labor's whaling strategy

The Foreign Minister has defended Australia's strategy for stopping Japanese whaling.

Whales worth more alive than dead: Garrett

A report showing whales are worth more alive than dead will be used to bolster the case for conservation at the IWC meeting.

Leaders agree to cool it on whaling

Kevin Rudd left Japan last night with strong backing for his proposed crackdown on nuclear weapon proliferation, but no support whatsover to end whaling.

Whaling policy appears high and dry

Nothing has changed, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd repeatedly said, calming doubters over his Government's whaling policy.

PMs hit snag over whaling

Australia and Japan's leaders disagree on whaling, but will share barbecue.

Whaling loses out to cars during Rudd's Japan visit

Greenpeace says that nuclear bombs and cars have been much more of an issue during the Prime Minister's Japanese visit.

US moves to plug loophole for slaughter of whales

The United States has called for a review of international law to regulate the killing of whales for scientific research in an apparent bid to plug a loophole exploited by Japan, which is accused of slaughtering the creatures.