The fluke of a Minke whale beneath the harpoon deck of a Japanese whaling vessel, Southern Ocean, 2006.

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The 'Yushin Maru' catcher ship of the Japanese whaling fleet injures a whale with its first harpoon attempt and takes a further three harpoon shots before finally capturing the badly injured fleeing whale. Finally they drowned the mammal beneath the harpoon deck of the ship to kill it. Southern Ocean

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Size: 3367px × 5050px
Location: Southern Ocean, Antarctica
Photo credit: © jeremy sutton-hibbert / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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