In early 2008 a Sea Shepherd crew of 33 volunteers travelled to the bottom of the world to confront the Japanese whaling fleet in Antarctic waters. The campaign was a huge success with five hundred whales saved from cruel death by harpoon. In the audio slideshows above ship photographer Noah Hannibal has documented the voyage, the confrontations with the whaling fleet and members of the Japanese military, and some of the wildlife and scenery encountered.

WHALES:  Several times during the campaign curious and friendly whales swam up to the side of the ship. Such breathtaking moments were marred somewhat by the knowledge that this friendly behaviour makes whales easy targets for the whalers' harpoons. One of the high points of the campaign occurred when a pod of over one hundred dolphins, humpback, minke and pilot whales swam between the Sea Shepherd vessel and the Nisshin Maru. The whalers were unable to kill any of these animals due to the Sea Shepherd presence.

During the early 2008 anti whaling campaign the Sea Shepherd stopped the Japanese whaling fleet from killing 500 whales, and cost them around 70 million dollars. A fantastic result for the gentle giants who otherwise would have endured long agonising deaths at the end of a harpoon. Next year Sea Shepherd will be back in harms way, the only organisation in the world taking direct action to put an end to the unjustifiable murder of whales. Please considering donating now so that you can help stop the whale slaughter today!