Friday, 17 September 2010







Bioaccumulation - The whale, squid and pollution illustration is to show bio-accumulation within the food chain. Pollution becomes mixed with zoo plankton, and small bits of weathered plastic are mistaken for food by fish and other marine organisms and animals. Because Sperm Whales are one of the animals at the top of the food chain they accumulate toxins eaten all the way up the food chain. A large whale may be able to cope with these toxins, but it is also passed to newborn calves through breast milk.

500 sheep! - as well as their spermaceti oil being valuable , a whales' meat is equivalent to around 500 sheep.

Brain – A whales' brain weighs approximately 20kg – about the same as a car tire or two year old child.

Mother and child – I was trying to demonstrate to children that Sperm Whales have similar birthing habits to humans and similar relationships for the first couple of years. The second drawing shows that, although very rare, they are also able to have twins.

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