Australia's fight for Japan to stop whaling

Australia is hoping that Japan could be forced to stop killing whales in the Antarctic, after the case is being heard at the International Court of Justice on Wednesday.

The Australian government says it's time for Japan to stop what it calls the "illegal" and "unnecessary slaughter" of the animals.

But the Japanese government, which aims to catch up to 1,000 whales each year, argues there are real scientific and cultural reasons for its whaling activities.

Killing whales for commercial reasons, such as selling their body parts, has been banned for 27 years.