Whale Skull Will Be Put On Display

Monday, October 23, 2006
KETCHIKAN, ALASKA - The skull of a killer whale found beached earlier this month will eventually be put on display, likely at an elementary school in Ketchikan. Aleria Jensen is the Alaska marine mammal stranding coordinator for the National Marine Fisheries Service.

She says the agency has determined the skull will remain in Ketchikan in light of the local effort to obtain it. The orca is thought to have died in September. It was found on October Seventh by Wayne Lich, Joyce Lich and Ashley Wieber on a beach about 25 miles from Ketchikan. The cause of death is NOT yet known.

The orca's head has been removed and brought to Ketchikan, where it's in the custody of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries' Office for Law Enforcement. There's also interest in obtaining the rest of the animal so the full skeleton is available for display.

Source: KTVA