It's that time of the year again. The NZ Department of Conservation have just picked up an Archi off Farewell Spit, the top end of South Island (NZ) for me today. It is no coincidence that one washed ashore in Tasmania last week.
I haven't any pics to show yet, but it arrives next week and we'll post a few of them when it arrives, and of it defrosting and being preserved. This one I think we'll keep for our own collections - it's about time that I get one on display here! (I've also got to preserve a small whale next week, so it will be a bit of a challenge doing both.)
Yup, the Department of Conservation (DOC) has been good to us! They are our friends.
This one is quite a bit smaller than the specimen of several years ago (as was relayed to me this morning), so it's no record breaker. Probably a good thing actually as I have limited financial resources to get it displayed (display tanks cost thousands, and this has not been budgeted for this year; I'll have to get creative!).
Steve,
Speaking of whales and squid (beaks), any chance you will have 5 min to write up the promised short story on the treasures you brought to TONMOCON? Dylan (the 4 year old who calls you his hero) finally got his this week and has been thanking your photo.
Thanks, Tony! We actually have at least one GS here in the freezer, awaiting attention (sometime after the start-of-semester madness dies down), so this venerable thread may continue.
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