Exploratory Expedition December 2007 In mid-December, the Museum sent a team of 4 to PEI to investigate the condition of the blue whale skeleton buried at Nail Pond, and determine if recovery was possible. They planned to find the whale carcass, excavate the burial site, and remove a few bones, to check their condition.
Dr. Andrew Trites sent photos and letters from the field in December 2007. Click below to read them:
Recovery Expedition May 2008 In May, an expanded team of UBC researchers and affiliates headed to PEI to retrieve the entire blue whale skeleton.
First, a trench alongside the whale was dug with an excavator. Using shovels, pickaxes, and other tools, the team exposed the carcass and peeled away the remaining skin, flesh, and blubber. The bones were removed, cleaned, labeled, and packed in a refrigerated container from CN rail.
View the video at right to see the team in action. Watch more videos from the expedition at the Beaty Museum's YouTube Channel.
