Animal Planet has been pinned down with the ecoterrorism tag by Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research. The new Whale Wars series on the channel is believed to serve chronicle to the exploits of an anti-whaling group called Sea Shepherd Conservation Society who did not hesitate to take direct confrontational methods to stop whale killing. They saved 300 whales last winter by using harsh tactics like hostage situations, gunfire and even throwing of smoke bombs on ships.

The Institute of Cetacean Research has also accused Animal Plant of supporting Sea Shepherd to stage an attack on the crew of the animal support group, which supposedly did not happen.

A lot of mixed facts there, so we don’t know what the real story is. But we do know that Japan has been defying the ban on international whaling for a long time. They tout scientific purposes as the reason when the meat is consumed as a delicacy all across the country, even schools. Whale meat had recently been declared unfit for consumption due to high toxic mercury levels in it.

Via planetsave