Dr. Peter Gill talking about Blue Whales to a keen young crowd at the Portland Upwelling Festival

Around fifteen youngsters enjoyed a special presentation by Dr. Peter Gill, Blue Whale Stuy’s Senior Research Scientist, at Portland’s Upwelling Festival.

Under the shadow of the very large inflatable blue whale the youngsters got to see what krill looks like and touch a large sample of blue whale baleen. “When you show just how big blue whales are and explain they are the largest living creature on earth, bigger than any dinasour, the kids eyes light up and they want to know more and more about them. We are lucky to have the large inflateable blue whale to give some idea of size. This year I used rope to outline just how big a blue whale tongue is” said Dr. Gill.

The children also learnt why the blue whales visit the ocean off Portland coastline and what they are doing there. “It is important that local children know about their own environment and in particular the marine environment as it has always been part of our history and prosperity. I hope that I can inspire our young budding marine scientists to take up an interest in the blue whales and our marine envionment” said Dr. Gill.