Why the Natural History Museum is finally cleaning its massive whale skeletons annually
In short: After sixteen years of neglect, the Natural History Museum has overhauled its conservation process for its whale specimens. Learn how the team stabilized these giants during a gallery refurbishment and why they are now committing to a yearly maintenance schedule for public benefit.
The Natural History Museum in London houses over 80 million specimens, ranging from meteorites and dinosaur fossils to a giant squid. Recently, the institution focused on its Mammals gallery, providing an opportunity for the conservation team to perform essential repairs on four whale skeletons, including a bowhead whale that had not been cleaned for 16 years.
This effort was part of a broader initiative to stabilize the collection. By integrating these maintenance tasks into their routine, the museum has established a new standard to ensure these specimens are cleaned every year, allowing visitors to view the skeletons in better condition.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A decade of dust: cleaning our whale skeletons
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