The skeleton of the ocean-going mammal has been placed in a Whale Hall within the zoology museum at the University of Cambridge. The skeleton is 70 feet in length, and full colour printing from Cambridge could be used to promote the reopening of the museum. The reopening of the Museum of Zoology is scheduled for 2017, and Matt Lowe, who is responsible for managing the collections, told the Cambridge News:
“It was a little bit exposed to the elements out there, and this was an opportunity to care for the object properly, and get the pigeons out – we actually found a dead one stuffed up the nose when we took the skull down!”
The whale was originally discovered in Sussex back in 1866. Having being washed to the shore in the Pevensey Bay area, the object became the property of the University of Cambridge.
The skeleton had previously been housed in an atrium. This space is located at a museum in Downing Street within Cambridge. One problem with that arrangement was that the skeleton was unprotected against the weather. Further, it exposed the object to pigeons.
A wider renovation project has given the skeleton suitable accommodation. Sir Quentin Blake, a former student at the university, has designed special blinds for the initiative. The blinds should prevent items from being damaged by sunlight.