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20 Million Year Old Whale Found on Australia's Coast
27 Feb
Summary
- A 20-million-year-old whale fossil weighing one tonne was found.
- The discovery occurred on Ocean Grove Beach in Victoria, Australia.
- Scientists believe it's one of Australia's most significant fossil finds.
A remarkable 20-million-year-old whale fossil, weighing approximately one tonne, was recently excavated from Ocean Grove Beach on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula. The significant discovery was made by a family in December 2025 while they were vacationing.
Around 20 staff from Museums Victoria and Barwon Coast utilized heavy machinery for the careful extraction. This find is being hailed as potentially one of the largest whale fossils ever discovered in Australia.
The fossil has been transported to the Melbourne Museum for in-depth study by paleontologists. Scientists are particularly interested in the connected nature of many of the bones and a distinctive tooth that offers clues to the whale's primitive origins.
Fossils from this ancient period are exceptionally rare worldwide. Researchers anticipate this discovery will greatly enhance understanding of whale evolution during a time of dramatic climatic and oceanic change.
