Whale Wars
Premieres: Southeast Asia on Oct 12 at 9:00 pm; North Asia on Oct 12 at 11:00 pm
DISCOVERY CHANNEL FOLLOWS CRUSADERS OF THE SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY IN WHALE WARS
Captain Paul Watson founded his Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in 1977 because he believed his new organization had to go even further to eradicate whaling, poaching, shark finning, habitat destruction and purported ocean law violations than the Greenpeace group he had co-founded. For several years, Watson's group of staff and volunteers have engaged in a campaign every winter to find and stop Japanese ships that hunt whales in the name of research, attempting to stop them by any non-violent means necessary. The eclectic group - labeled as activists, heroes and/or eco-pirates - leave port in Melbourne, Australia for a month-long campaign that is dangerous, controversial and has garnered international media attention. Sea Shepherd's dedicated, international crew have spent their holiday the last several years and risked their lives at the bottom of the earth to save whales.
During the 2007-2008 campaign, Discovery Channel captured the intensity of Sea Shepherd's mission, and the trials and tribulations of the crew in a new seven-part, hour-long weekly series WHALE WARS.
The series draws attention to this global conservation issue that has caused friction between several nations over the practice of whaling in oceanic territories. This year's campaign was particularly eventful with multiple engagements, capsizing, possible hostage-taking and alleged shooting, and Discovery Channel crews were onboard to document it as it unfolded.
Highlighting both the controversial whaling trade and the tactics that Sea Shepherd and its staff and volunteers use to attempt to cripple it, the series documents the group's three-month sojourn across the icy Antarctic waters at the far end of the globe. Each week on WHALE WARS, Discovery Channel will take viewers on a powerful and adrenaline-fueled adventure and spotlight how the group takes action against alleged illegal whaling operations. The Society's fight to eradicate Japanese whaling on the high seas - where international laws are interpreted by different countries and organizations in different ways - utilizes some aggressive techniques, including ramming and disabling whaling ships; disrupting whale carcass processing; engaging in physical entanglement; and boarding and dispersing fleets of whaling vessels. For the campaign this season, Sea Shepherd christened its vessel Steve Irwin, in honour of the iconic conservationist with the blessing of his wife Terri, both of whom support the organization independent of Discovery Channel.
Among some of the crew members followed in WHALE WARS are Paul Watson, captain; Peter Brown, 1st Mate; Peter Hammarstedt, 2nd Mate; Benjamin Potts, chief cook; Dr Scott Bell, medical officer; Amber Paarman, quartermaster; Shannon Mann, quartermaster; David Jennings, bosun; Kim McCoy, quartermaster; Tod Emko, communications officer; and Chris Aultman, helicopter pilot.
Find out more about whales at www.howstuffworks.com/whale.htm
WHALE WARS episode descriptions:
Episode 1: Needle in a Haystack
Paul Watson is the captain and founder of Sea Shepherd, a radical environmental group made up of self-proclaimed eco-pirates who fight for marine conservation. Their mission is to confront and stop Japanese fishing vessels from killing whales in Antarctica. Paul's crew sets sail from Melbourne, Australia, and consists of 34 international volunteers, but he quickly questions whether they are up for such a dangerous campaign. Immediately after departing, the newbies get slammed with seasickness. Later at sea, a small boat with four people aboard capsizes and a helicopter blade is damaged. As the Sea Shepherds spot their first whaling boat, the captain fears their mission is in serious jeopardy before they've even begun.
Episode 2: Nothing's Ideal
After weeks of searching, the Sea Shepherds finally spot a Japanese whaling ship, the harpoon vessel Yushin Maru #2. Captain Paul Watson devises a dangerous plan for two of his crew members to board the vessel and deliver a letter telling them to stop the killing of whales. He hopes to create an international incident, but his plan sparks a safety debate that divides the crew. Two volunteers enlist for the mission - Ben Potts and Giles Lane - and the crew braces for the worst as the men jump over the railing of the enemy ship. They are immediately tied up by the Japanese fishermen and the Yushin speeds away with the two Shepherds still aboard.
Episode 3: International Incidents R Us
With Ben and Giles of Sea Shepherd being held hostage aboard the Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru #2, Captain Paul Watson is pleased at the international media storm he has created, and rejects an offer from whalers to release the hostages. He forces the Australian and Japanese governments to get involved and at last negotiate for their return. As the Sea Shepherds head to pick up their crew members, they decide to attack the Japanese vessel that held them hostage. In the process, they lose radio contact with their outboard boat and fear the four crew members aboard are lost in the middle of the pitch-black, cold Antarctic night.
Episode 4: We are Hooligans
After three long days, Pottsy and Giles are transferred back from the Yushin Maru and become instant celebrities with the media. Just as they are settling back in, the crew is concerned when they discover an unknown ship has been following them! The Captain plans a surprise recon on the mystery ship to determine its intentions. The Delta and Helicopter are launched together in order to ambush the vessel and they discover it's a spy ship for the Japanese whalers. Paul persuades his crew to attack the spy ship, but just as the Delta boat is preparing to launch, a crucial tool on the Steve Irwin breaks - the hydraulic crane. Not only is the attack aborted, but the whole Sea Shepherd's mission is in jeopardy.
Episode 5: Doors Slamming and Things Breaking
The ship's engineer reports that one of two engines is broken. Now they will be unable to keep up with the Japanese whalers and are forced to return to Melbourne for repairs. While heading back, they are forced to navigate through a massive oceanic storm. After they make it out alive, the crew throws a party to celebrate but the officers are angry and order the Steve Irwin to now become a dry ship. This is the final straw for many volunteers and they decide to get off the ship when they dock. With astronomical engine repair costs and a skeleton crew, the Sea Shepherds are worried they won't be able to raise enough money to complete their anti-whaling campaign.
Episode 6: Ladies First
Armed with new volunteers, the Sea Shepherds head out to sea to find the Japanese whaling ships. After they pinpoint the fleet's location, the Captain raises the stakes and plans for another boarding. This time it will be an all-female boarding team! Many of the crew are worried for their safety, having to jump aboard a large moving ship. Tensions rise as the crew struggles to load two outboard boats while disorganized deckhands fight among themselves. During the mission, a female crew member is critically injured in one of the Delta's and she is rushed back aboard the Steve Irwin.
Episode 7: Boiling Point
The Sea Shepherds have finally found the most important ship in the Japanese whaling fleet, the Nisshin Maru factory ship. Everything has led to this moment and despite warnings from the Japanese whalers, the Sea Shepherds strike. After two rounds of attacks, the Japanese whalers retaliate with concussion grenades. During the battle, the Captain claims to be shot and he removes a bullet lodged in his bulletproof vest, aimed at his heart. The Sea Shepherds alert the media that Paul Watson is safe and triumphantly depart Antarctica. They claim to have successfully saved hundreds of whales but know their mission will never be over till whales are no longer being slaughtered in the Southern Oceans.
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