1.   It is the season for the giant mammals to migrate south for the winter.

2.   Officials, joined by scientists from Tokyo and other cities, have watched over the giant mammals while spraying water on them.

3.   Small boats then herded the giant mammals back out to sea.

4.   The salt plant would endanger the already difficult survival of the giant mammals, Greenpeace said.

5.   When the tide went out, the giant mammal was left three quarters out of the water.

6.   With an estimated one million sperm whales worldwide, this particular species of the giant mammal is not threatened by extinction.