MOVE OVER, DIPPY THE DINOSAUR, ENTER THE IRISH WHALE

A BLUE whale skeleton hailing from Ireland has become the new centrepiece in one of Britain’s most popular museums.

The whale, named Hope, will replace the beloved Dippy the Diplodocus as the Natural History Museum in London’s biggest star.

The 25.2 metre skeleton, that comes from the east coast of Ireland, can now be found dangling above the heads of visitors in the fascinating museum’s Hintze Hall.

Found on a beach in Wexford Harbour, the blue whale was bought by the museum in 1934, ten years after it opened.

The skeleton used to reside in the Mammal House, but has since been moved to centre stage.

Swapping Dippy’s ancient skeleton for the Wexford giant was done to inspire love and appreciation for the living world. ‘Putting our blue whale, Hope, at the centre of the Museum, between living species on the West and extinct species on the East, is a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the responsibility we have towards our planet,’ said Sir Michael Dixon, Director of the Natural History Museum.

When Hope was found on Irish shores in the 1800s, there were approximately 250,000 blue whales in existence. That number dropped to around 400 in 1966 – putting the blue whales on the brink of extinction – due to commercial hunting.

That year, a global decision was made to legally protect the species, allowing their numbers to rise to the current numbers of 20,000. Hope’s popularity in her London home seems to have already played a key role in instilling respect for the still-endangered species.

The museum’s leading whale expert, Richard Sabin, said: ‘I remember visiting the museum as a child and being amazed when I came face-to-face with the blue whale skeleton we are now unveiling in Hintze Hall.

‘It is impossible not to be struck by the sheer scale and majesty of this beautiful creature as she dives towards you when you enter the Museum.’

Hope will reside in the famous Hall while her Jurassic predecessor begins a two-year tour of Britain. The whale’s new status as the star attraction of London will hopefully leave visitors with a new-found appreciation for the giant creature and other natural wonders across the globe.