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Whale Skeleton to Become Museum Exhibit
29 Jan
Summary
- A 25-ft Bryde's whale skeleton will be displayed at a museum.
- The whale carcass was buried to preserve its skeleton for future excavation.
- DNA, bone, and skin samples collected for species and health analysis.
The forest department has initiated the preservation of a 25-ft-long Bryde's whale skeleton that recently washed ashore at the Devi river mouth beach within Bhitarkanika National Park. The whale's carcass was buried to protect its skeleton, which will be excavated after two months for mounting and display at the natural history museum in Dangamal.
Wildlife biologist Siba Prasad Parida and his team are overseeing the preservation efforts. They have collected DNA, bone, and skin samples, which will be sent to the Zoological Survey of India in Kolkata. This analysis aims to identify the species, determine its gender, map genetic diversity, and assess population health and pollution levels.
This preservation effort follows Parida's previous successful skeleton-mounting projects, including a 42-ft male Bryde's whale in West Bengal (2017) and a 31-ft sperm whale in Odisha (2015). Environmentalists advocate for building a dedicated hall to exhibit the whale skeleton, potentially boosting tourism in the Bhitarkanika National Park.
