An Australian review of Japanese whaling experiments has described the research as bizarre and ridiculous.
In 18 years Japan has produced just 43 research papers relating to the killing of whales for scientific purposes.
The telegraph reports experiments have included injecting dead minke whale sperm into cow eggs and attempting to produce whale test tube babies.
Critics say the nature of the research show the program is a complete sham.
The head of Australia's scientific delegation to the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Dr Nick Gales, labelled the research "bizarre".
"[The research involves] really bizarre and strange experiments with sheep and pigs and eggs," he said. "It's totally esoteric; very strange indeed."
Meanwhile Japanese authorities have rejected claims by Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson that he was shot in the chest by whalers in the Southern Ocean.
