Whale of a biology lesson at FH Labs fin whale necropsy


	Lopez Island	Orcas Island	Visitor's Guide

Email this page to a friend

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FRIDAY HARBOR LABS

JAZZ at the LABS

Jazz at the Labs supports science in the classroom (2006)
posted 06/05/06

Not your typical science classroom (jazz preview 2005)
posted 05/25/05

Jazz at the Labs supports science in the classroom (2004)
posted 06/08/04

OPEN HOUSE

Open House 2007
posted 05/21/2007

Open House 2005
posted 05/09/05

Open House 2003
posted 05/04/03

Arthur Whiteley

Helen Riaboff Whiteley Center

Global impacts of "Bug Station's" century of research
posted 07/19/04

100 Years of Exploration and Discovery - University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs Centennial Exhibit
posted 05/17/04

Centennial celebration included dedication of the Centennial
posted 05/05/03

Ellis gift celebrated

Helen Riaboff Whiteley Center
posted 05/05/02

NECROPSY STORY:

Whale of a biology lesson at FH Labs

Story and photos by Sharon Kivisto

updated 11/010/02 - posted 11/07/02
It was smelly, messy and very educational. Dozens of people watched researchers perform a necropsy on a 48-foot fin whale late last night (November 6, 2002) at FH UW Labs. The sub-adult male whale may have been struck by a ship. Performing a necropsy would determine the cause of death and provide a wealth of information. "We're gathering baseline data," said Dr. Joe Gaydos, a veterinarian with UC Davis and MEHP.

Students examine the whale's eye

The whale is measured by Rich Osborne and Allan Shepard

An upside down view of the whale's mouth

A middle-school student counts the baleen

Allan Shepard removes the baleen which will become part of an exhibit at The Whale Museum

Final reports indicated the whale died from a ship-strike. There was massive hemorrhaging, symmetrical fractures and a displaced spine indicative of blunt trauma.

Dr. Rich Osborne of the Whale Museum led the group effort to quickly necropsy the whale. Nick Nash and Kari Koski had managed to tow the whale to the beach by the lab. It took the pair six hours to move the whale 13 miles. Nash said they ended up using two 100 foot lines to tow the whale like a tug towing a barge. "It was 20 feet longer than my boat," he said.

The whale arrived on the beach at 6 p.m. By 9 p.m. measurements had been finished, extension cords strung, lab equipment set up and researchers brought in. The whale ended up upside down on the beach. It would be towed out when the tide came back in.

REST OF STORY AND MORE PHOTOS

NOTE: the photos on the next page are more graphic if you would like to read the story without the photos CLICK HERE

Numerous photographs were taken of the whale by students and researchers

Another view of the whales mouth and baleen

Fin whales take in large volumes of water through the pleated grooves in the throat which expand

news @sanjuanislander.com

ABOUT US | ADVERTISING INFO | CONTACT INFORMATION |

Related pages

Whale of a biology lesson at FH Labs