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Episode Guide

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LOOKING FOR THE EPISODE GUIDE FOR SEASON 2? VISIT THE WORLD OF WHALE WARS MAP!

whale wars   NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK (Episode 1)
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.

whale wars   NOTHING'S IDEAL (Episode 2)
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.

whale wars   INTERNATIONAL INCIDENTS R US (Episode 3)
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.

whale wars   WE ARE HOOLIGANS (Episode 4)
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.

whale wars   DOORS SLAMMING AND THINGS BREAKING (Episode 5)
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 size of Australia. 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.

whale wars   LADIES FIRST (Episode 6)
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.

whale wars   BOILING POINT (Episode 7)
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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  WHALE WARS VIDEO GALLERY



Only one group stands between a 750-ton whale-killing machine and its prey. Whale Wars follows the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as they seek to end Japanese whaling once and for all.

Watch deleted scenes, exciting episode clips and more. Check back often as we add more video.
 
  DID YOU KNOW?

Japanese Whaling: Japan traces its coastal whaling heritage back thousands of years, but the country did not start hunting in Antarctica until the 1930's. Find out more about Japanese whaling.

Sperm Whale Diving: The sperm whale can hold its breath for up to 90 minutes. To conserve oxygen, it decreases its heart rate while redirecting blood to the brain and essential organs. Find out more about the sperm whale.

The Longest-Lived: Move over tortoises! The bowhead whale was recently proven to be the longest-lived animal on earth. Find out more about whales in our Wild Animals A-Z guide.
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Jul 05,
10:00 pm
60 min(s)
Whale Wars
Boiling Point

The Sea Shepherds have finally found the most important ship in t
Jul 06,
1:00 am
60 min(s)
Whale Wars
Boiling Point

The Sea Shepherds have finally found the most important ship in t
Jul 06,
5:00 am
60 min(s)
Whale Wars
Boiling Point

The Sea Shepherds have finally found the most important ship in t
Jul 10,
8:00 pm
60 min(s)
Whale Wars
Yum Yum, Eat Crow

The Sea Shepherds have come across the entire Japanese fleet sear
Jul 10,
9:00 pm
60 min(s)
Whale Wars
The Unintimidatables

The Steve Irwin is quarantined in Hobart and the crew anxiously w
 
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