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Sacramento State Student Featured On Animal Planet's Whale Wars

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Sarah Ahee is on a mission to save whales.

The Sacramento State student, along with crew members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society are being featured on the current season of Animal Planet's Whale Wars.

The conservation society targets Japanese whalers off the coast of Antarctica.

"They attempt to kill 1,000 whales inside an internationally recognized sanctuary," Ahee said.

The nonprofit tries to protect the whales by harassing the harpoon boats with smaller ships, or driving the whales from the area using helicopters.

"We don't do anything illegal, we just try to intervene and disrupt their whaling operations," she said.

On their last campaign, the crew became the target as the whalers hunted them.

"It was terrifying. You're in Antarctica. What happens when you lose your ship?" she said. "They rammed us. They crushed the stern of our ship. At one point we almost capsized. We had to put out multiple maydays."

It's Ahee's second season on the show, but she says it's not about her, it's about the message.

"I feel passionate about saving whales because I feel responsible," she said. "Just the fact that we as human beings can send a species into extinction is just unforgivable."

The new season of Whale Wars premieres Friday at 9 p.m. on Animal Planet.

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