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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Japanese 'Frankenwhale' Experiments Slammed

Scientists say whale research is bizarre, useless

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(Newser) – Scientists have reviewed the research Japan uses to justify hunting whales, and they've concluded that it is mostly useless—and very weird, Sydney's Daily Telegraph reports.   Researchers tried to fertilize cow and pig eggs with whale sperm, and to create test-tube whales from frozen sperm.  "It's totally esoteric, very strange research," an Australian scientist said.

He also noted that Japanese researchers had only  43 papers to show for 18 years and 7,000 slaughtered whales. Australian delegates to this weekend's meeting of the International Whaling Commission in London will make the case that the "scientific research" loophole in the ban on commercial whaling, which allows Japan to hunt, should be closed.

In this photo released by Greenpeace, Australian government customs officials from the Oceanic Viking pull alongside the Japanese whaling fleet's factory ship Nisshin Maru as she transfers whale meat and refuels from the supply ship Oriental Bluebird, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, in the Antarctic Ocean. (AP Photo/Greenpeace, Jiri Rezac)
In this photo released by Greenpeace, Australian government customs officials from the Oceanic Viking pull alongside the Japanese whaling fleet's factory ship Nisshin Maru as she transfers whale meat...   (Associated Press)
This undated handout photo released by the Australian Customs Service, shows what the Australian government says is the slain carcasses of a minke whale and her calf hauled aboard the Japanese harpoon ship Yushin Maru 2 in the Antarctic waters. (AP Photo/Australian Customs Service, HO)
This undated handout photo released by the Australian Customs Service, shows what the Australian government says is the slain carcasses of a minke whale and her calf hauled aboard the Japanese harpoon...   (Associated Press)
In experiments scientists called
In experiments scientists called "really bizarre," Japanese researchers tried to fertilize cow eggs with whale sperm. Critics say the weird experiments show that Japan's annual whale hunt in the name...   ((c) Erwin Winkelman)
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