Hayden Panettiere issued with an arrest warrant in Japan

Heroes star Hayden Panettiere has reportedly been issued with an arrest warrant in Japan.

Hayden, 18, was issued with the warrant as a result of her Save the Whales protest in the country, according to popular celebrity TV show E! News.

The young actress was part of a group who tried to prevent the slaughter of a group of whales and dolphins by fishermen near Taiji in southwestern Japan.

The group of activists were involved in a confrontation with local fishermen after they paddled on surfboards to try and reach a group of dolphins that were captured in a cave and ready to be slaughtered.

Video footage of the dispute showed fishermen lashing out at the group of activists with a boat hook, forcing them to return to shore

Panettiere told E! News that she didn't know what repercussions the arrest warrant would bring, but stressed she's not put off from doing it again.

She said: "I'd do it again. Very possibly might do it again."

The star also told celebrity website TMZ.com that she won't give up fighting to save the planet's animals, and that more people should be joining her crusade.

Hayden said: "Obviously this issue has generated defensive behaviour on the part of both the Japanese authorities and fishermen. I have grown up hearing - and adhearing to - this phrase: 'condemnation  without investigation dooms one to everlasting ignorance.'

We must unite as a world to solve our increasing international environmental crises. We can no longer hide behind out-dated, senseless cultural traditions and lazy, bad habits that are resulting in the annihilation of our planet's resources and the extinction of species."