http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...d-on-wickaninnish-beach-near-tofino-1.3045406
Grey whale to be dissected on Wickaninnish Beach near Tofino
Volunteers will clean and bury the skeleton, which will eventually go on display at the Ucluelet Aquarium
CBC News Posted: Apr 23, 2015 7:07 AM PT| Last Updated: Apr 23, 2015 7:07 AM PT
Grey whales are common this time of the year as they migrate from California to the cooler waters of Alaska.
Parks Canada is studying the carcass, but there are no plans to remove it.
A grey whale carcass was discovered on April 20 on Wickaninnish beach near Ucluelet, B.C. (CHEK News)
Biologists with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada are planning to dissect the body of a young grey whale today that washed up on Wickaninnish Beach near Tofino, B.C., earlier this week.
Scientists aren't sure why it died, though there is some evidence it was struck by a boat. Researchers will take tissue samples to look at other possible causes.
After that work is done, a team of volunteers will take over dissecting the rest of the carcass, according to Laura Griffith-Cochrane, the curator of the Ucluelet Aquarium.
She says the remains will be buried and composted, before the skeleton is re-assembled for display at the aquarium.
"Very rarely does a whale die and wash up in really good shape. It is sad that it is such a young whale that is not swimming in the ocean, but it was such an incredible learning opportunity," said Griffith-Cochrane.
"We have ten people that are going to take part and sacrifice some of their clothing, because once you get whale smell on it, it is never coming out. I think we are just so lucky that we live in a community that is excited about this sort of thing."
Grey whales were once hunted to the brink of extinction, but are now common off the West Coast during spring months as they migrate from Mexico and California to the cooler waters of Alaska.\
Grey whale to be dissected on Wickaninnish Beach near Tofino
Volunteers will clean and bury the skeleton, which will eventually go on display at the Ucluelet Aquarium
CBC News Posted: Apr 23, 2015 7:07 AM PT| Last Updated: Apr 23, 2015 7:07 AM PT
Grey whales are common this time of the year as they migrate from California to the cooler waters of Alaska.
Parks Canada is studying the carcass, but there are no plans to remove it.
A grey whale carcass was discovered on April 20 on Wickaninnish beach near Ucluelet, B.C. (CHEK News)
Biologists with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada are planning to dissect the body of a young grey whale today that washed up on Wickaninnish Beach near Tofino, B.C., earlier this week.
Scientists aren't sure why it died, though there is some evidence it was struck by a boat. Researchers will take tissue samples to look at other possible causes.
After that work is done, a team of volunteers will take over dissecting the rest of the carcass, according to Laura Griffith-Cochrane, the curator of the Ucluelet Aquarium.
She says the remains will be buried and composted, before the skeleton is re-assembled for display at the aquarium.
"Very rarely does a whale die and wash up in really good shape. It is sad that it is such a young whale that is not swimming in the ocean, but it was such an incredible learning opportunity," said Griffith-Cochrane.
"We have ten people that are going to take part and sacrifice some of their clothing, because once you get whale smell on it, it is never coming out. I think we are just so lucky that we live in a community that is excited about this sort of thing."
Grey whales were once hunted to the brink of extinction, but are now common off the West Coast during spring months as they migrate from Mexico and California to the cooler waters of Alaska.\
