Royal Ontario Museum to help preserve skeletons of Newfoundland beached whales

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – A team from the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto will help preserve the skeletons of two beached blue whales that washed ashore on the west coast of Newfoundland.

Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea announced Thursday that researchers will also collect tissue samples.

Shea said the loss of the endangered whales believed to have been trapped in ice is a rare chance to learn about the mysterious mammals.

Communities in Trout River and Rocky Harbour had appealed for help after the two mammoth whale carcasses washed ashore last month.

There were concerns that the rotting whales pose health hazards and could affect tourism if left to decompose.

Shea said the team will travel to Newfoundland but provided no details on how the whales will be removed.