Skeleton of the humpback whale goes to the Netherlands for rehabilitation

The humpback whale skeleton, which has been on display in the Hippopotamus House at the Riga Zoo since 2007, will now travel to the Netherlands, where it will undergo cleaning and restoration work. That is why specialists from the company Inside Out Animals BV have arrived in Riga to dismantle the whale skeleton and prepare it for transportation. It is planned that the large boxes with valuable contents leave for the Netherlands on Friday, 7 March. DHL will provide transportation, and travel insurance will be covered by the insurance joint-stock company BTA Baltic Insurance Company.

After the bones have been bleached and restored, the skeleton of the humpback whale will return to the Riga Zoo and be placed in the Zinarium Environmental Education Centre. This is expected to happen in the second half of this year.

Jānis Rudzītis, Chairperson of the Board of the Riga National Zoo, appreciates the importance of this work: “The whale skeleton washed up on the seashore has become part of the history of Riga ZOO and a landmark for every visitor. We are proud to be able to implement this project, which is a crucial step in preserving natural heritage and a significant event for public education. The restored skeleton will be used to teach about marine animals, biodiversity conservation and environmental protection. It will serve as an important educational resource for the community at large. The display of the skeleton and related events will promote public awareness of animal protection, marine biology and the importance of preserving natural values.”

The transportation of the dismantled skeleton to the Netherlands is entrusted to DHL, and the head of DHL Express in Latvia Artis Dekšenieks is confident that everything will go smoothly: “DHL has always prided itself on delivering shipments accurately, keeping its promises to customers, and selflessly engaging in projects where our help is needed. When Riga Zoo approached us, we didn’t hesitate for a moment. We contacted other DHL business lines immediately and developed a logistics plan for moving the whale skeleton. We are already happy for the children, who will gain knowledge about the structure of large marine animals and learn about the diversity of nature in such an exciting way.”

The cleaning of the humpback whale skeleton and the restoration of damaged parts will be carried out by a team of specialists from the Netherlands company Inside Out Animals BV, who once prepared the skull of the Asian elephant Raja for exhibition, which can be seen in the exhibition “Osteo Stories at the Zoo” in the Hippopotamus House. This experience serves as confirmation that the restoration work will be carried out carefully and professionally. After its return, the whale skeleton will keep educating the public about marine animals, their anatomy and their place in the ecosystem.

The humpback whale skeleton is restored in cooperation with the Latvian Environmental Protection Foundation “Treasures of the Baltic Sea – Our Common Values” (No. 1-08/70/2024)

On 21 July 2006, a dead humpback whale was found on the shores of Vidzeme. The young male was 10 metres long and weighed 10 tons. A decision was made to transport the dead animal to the port of Skulte and bring it ashore so that specialists from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (then Latvia University of Agriculture) could then examine the whale. The autopsy revealed that the humpback whale had several skull bones shattered, apparently caused by a collision with a ship. Thanks to the initiative of the then head of the Food and Veterinary Service, V. Veldre, the bones were taken for further processing so that the skeleton of the giant animal could be assembled. After several months of soaking in baths, washing, and processing, the bones could begin to be put together. The finished humpback whale skeleton was initially exhibited at the Latvian National Museum of Nature; thereafter, by mutual agreement in July 2007, it moved to the Riga National Zoo, where it has been on display to this day.

Together with the Latvian National Museum of Nature, we wish the humpback whale skeleton a successful journey and look forward to its return to the Riga Zoo!


Photo: Riga Zoo

Information prepared by:
Māris Lielkalns, Historical Information Specialist
Mob.: +371 26334154