Australian scientists have found a novel way to study whales without killing them.

The Japanese authorities claim to base their arguments for whaling on science, but in fact invest heavily in emotive messages - for example, that whaling is an integral part of the national culture
• There is no national culture of whaling in Japan; there are local cultures, but there are also local cultures that regard whales as gods, where killing them would be unthinkable
• Successive governments have placed a high priority on ensuring a plentiful supply of fish through diplomacy, often building relationships with developing countries possessing productive coastal waters

They say analysis of the whales' faeces lets them examine their stomach contents minutely.
Japan says the need to find out about the animals' diets is one reason why it kills hundreds of whales every year.

The new approach was developed by Australian and US researchers, who collected blue whale faeces in nets. The animals discharge them as a thin brown cloud near the ocean surface.

Using DNA testing, the researchers established what the whales had eaten and also a distinctive "signature" for each animal, as well as the internal parasites the whales were carrying.
The research was revealed by Dr Nick Gales, a principal research scientist at the Australian Environment Department's Antarctic division.
He said: "We will be telling the International Whaling Commission that this is a robust, non-lethal method for studying whales.
Dr Gales said the DNA method had let researchers identify species such as krill in the blue whales' stomach contents, as well as nematode parasites. They had also established the whales' gender and individual characteristics.