Japanese whalers have shipped home 333 dead whales - including about 200 pregnant cows - prompting Australia to declare anew it is considering legal action over the slaughter. The whalers, who claim their annual whale hunt is for "scientific research", admitted some of the harpooned minke whales had been expecting twins. Japan defied a ruling by the international court to stop whaling, resuming its hunt over the summer months in the face of international condemnation. The court had ruled Japan's whale hunt illegal in a case brought by Australia, but Tokyo announced new guidelines in   November to justify killing more than 4000 whales in the next 12 years, and has since withdrawn from the court's jurisdiction. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia would continue to push for Japan to comply with its international obligations. Asked about the prospect of Australia taking further legal action, Ms Bishop said the government was "considering all avenues to achieve compliance with the court's decision".