The mother ship of Japan's whaling fleet has departed for its annual hunt in the Antarctic, Greenpeace claim.

 A Minke Mother and Her Calf


Government officials declined to confirm the departure of the ship, called the Nisshin Maru, after ongoing protest threats.

The rest of the fleet is expected to leave from another port this month.

Japanese whalers plan to catch up to 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales.

Fisheries Agency official Toshinori Uoya said: "We've decided not to hold a departure...


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