The skeleton of a blue whale that washed ashore on the west coast of Newfoundland in 2014 is now in place at Memorial University’s newly-constructed core sciences facility.
The significant undertaking took place this morning as crews set to work lifting the reconstructed skeleton—consisting of over 350 bones—into the facility’s atrium.
Great job by the crew. @MemorialU pic.twitter.com/lORmjCCYzI
— Jeff Hulan (@fareast) August 17, 2021
The whale’s skull alone measures almost six feet in length, while the skeleton in its entirety is about 82-feet long.
This whale was one of two that washed ashore in 2014 that were preserved and sent to the Royal Ontario Museum for cleaning and display. However, this skeleton was brought back to the island thanks to core funding provided by the Dobbin family in partnership with federal and provincial governments.
The skeleton will rest facing southeast towards Prince Philip Drive.
Sounds alive! pic.twitter.com/Ku8Xzh0lop
— Jeff Hulan (@fareast) August 17, 2021
