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The Japanese Harpoon Vessel Yushin Maru #2
The Sea Shepherd logo
NEW YORK, New York -- Last month, when the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel The Steve Irwin docked in Hobart, Tasmania, it was met by two dozen members of the Australian Federal Police. They were there to confiscate hundreds of hours of videotape, launching an investigation into what was one of the most intense and dramatic campaigns ever conducted by the Sea Shepherds in their 30-year history. It was a life-changing experience for those on the boats and will be an extraordinary television series for audiences when WHALE WARS returns for a new season, premiering on June 5, 2009, at 9PM (ET/PT).
Those seized tapes and hundreds of hours of other footage comprise the second season of Animal Planet's WHALE WARS, the best-performing series in the network's history among adults 25-54 (529,000 viewers) and men 25-54 (309,000 viewers). And Season two looks to be even stronger than its freshman campaign as Animal Planet follows the 10-week voyage that proves to be more dangerous, more drama filled and more controversial than last season.
This year, there were collisions at sea; tense times as The Steve Irwin, with its non-ice worthy hull, was trapped in ice fields; harrowing nautical maneuvers; and use of more aggressive defenses against the Sea Shepherds, including the use of high-powered water cannons and use of Long Range Acoustical Devices (LRADs), sonic devices that cause intense pain and could cause permanent hearing damage. The Japanese whaling fleet suffered a deadly loss as one of its workers slipped and fell overboard (not during an engagement with the Sea Shepherds) and whose body was never recovered. Watson and Sea Shepherd offered to help in a rescue mission for the missing worker, but the whaling vessels claimed they did more to interfere than assist.
"WHALE WARS has proven to be truly compelling television and has engaged our audience with stellar storytelling," notes Marjorie Kaplan, president and general manager of Animal Planet Media. "This series has created a national conversation about conservation, while showcasing a group of deeply passionate people risking their lives for a cause. Our sophomore season shows the intense danger in battling the elements in a harsh environment as well as how perilous it is for these groups to engage each other at sea. Not only are the lives of whales important, but human life is at stake."
"I have always said that we would do everything we can short of hurting people to end illegal whaling in the Antarctic," says Watson. "We have done everything we could with the resources available to us this year. We shut down their illegal operations for over a month in total. We cost them money, and we have saved the lives of a good many whales."
This season on WHALE WARS, in addition to returning crew members Peter Brown (First Officer), Peter Hammarstedt (Second Officer), Chris Aultman (Helicopter Pilot/Aviation Director), Laurens de Groot (Deckhand), Ben Potts (Helicopter Crew) and Shannon Mann (Quartermaster), the Steve Irwin is joined by Jane Taylor (Quartermaster), Luke Van Horn (Communications Officer), Andy Perry (Leading Deckhand), Molly Kendall (Deckhand) and Laura Dakin (Chief Cook). These featured crew members help comprise the 40 international crew who spent the winter putting their lives on the line for whales.
To support the new season of WHALE WARS and engage an active fan base, AnimalPlanet.com will relaunch the series site and add new features including maps, a virtual tour, view and vote, tactics, history of whaling, top 10 moments, meet-the-crew logs and producer behind-the-scenes commentary.
Reader Comments
5 people have commented so far.I can't wait to see how this goes. I am truly interested to see what goes on with this whole thing.
- Sacscuba · Sacramento, CA · Apr 13, 2009 @ 11:48am
Glad to see a second season!Question.....were the tapes actually siezed?If so what are they presenting for season 2?Were the tapes returned?
- George Gross · Regina Canada · Apr 19, 2009 @ 12:41pm
To the brave Courageous Sea Shepherd Crew and their faithful Captain Watson..I have been watching your documentary for some time and I can see that the battle is getting up close and personal,reprisive and very dangerous. As I am a Christian I want you to know that I am praying for your safety and protection from harm's way. Many im the Japanese culture have little value for human life as evidenced in WWII committing hare\kare as well in their Japanese rituals. Therefore they have no respect nor value for the human lives on the Sea Shepherd. I sincerely belive that the best way to fight this battle is in an international court of law. I believe this battle can be won in your favor, Sea shepherds. As announced on the show;" both sides claim to have the law on their side." This cannot be since it has never been tried nor proven legally. I am praying for a good principled legal attorney to take heart and represent you in a court of law to bring an end to this senseless and merciless killing of the whales. My heart aches as yours does when I see the blood spurting from a beautiful, intelligent creature fighting for its life in the deep waves and foam of the sea. Again I am praying for your safety. You have taken some heavy risks and I don't want to see anybody on the Sea Shepherd hurt or worse. I know that God is on your side and I know that he will help you fight this battle in a court of law. You will have the victory Paul! God bless y
- Roberta Marie Kiszer · Naples, florida · Aug 7, 2009 @ 8:30pm
When I started watching, I was all for the Sea Shepherd stopping the Japanese whalers. But as the episodes progressed, Capt. Paul Watson lost all credibility with his underhanded tatics and twisting of of the truth. - His being shot on the deck of the Sea Shepherd from a gunman off the one of the Japanese ship. Why would Capt. Watson have a Kevlar vest on, when he never wore one in any othe episodes? If Capt. Watson was shot at that close range, with anything from a .22 caliber on up, it would have knocked him over. He is trying to tell us a slug, which was quite large, hit him on deck and he never noticed, let alone got bowled over. - His complete disregard for the safety of Chris Aultman when firing off flares at the whalers. When notified that Mr. Aultman expressed concern at the flares, Watson simply shrugged. - Capt. Watson's total lie about ramming the whalers on the last episode. He told the press the that they "turned into him'. Go watch the video. He put his entire crew and the lives of at least 45 other humans at risk. Capt. Watson. I see why you were forced out of Greenpeace. You incapable of telling the truth.
- G · Sacramento · Aug 22, 2009 @ 12:21am
will whale wars come back for a season three because on the last episode they acted like they werent and like they were being sneaky and turning the cameras on and stuff will it be a season three
- allen stinnett · sacramento,ca · Aug 22, 2009 @ 11:11pm