The Whale Interpretive Centre
Telegraph Cove, British Columbia
The Whale Interpretive Centre (WIC) is located in Telegraph Cove, BC and run by the non-profit Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Interpretive Centre Society (JSKWICS).
The WIC was founded in 2002 to provide a venue in which to increase public awareness about the biology of marine mammals and the anthropogenic threats facing their populations. The Whale Interpretive Centre also is home to the ' Bones Project' and the 'Aquarium Project'.
The objective of the Whale Interpretive Centre is to provide information to the public for increased awareness of the biology, habitat needs and threats to killer whales, fin whales, humpback whales and sea otters as well as other local marine mammals.
This land-based interpretive centre with these objectives was one of the recommendations of the Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Committee, co-chaired by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and BC Parks.
The atmosphere of the WIC is informal and highly interactive.
Visitors are able to:
• view an invertebrate Aquarium
• enjoy a "kids corner" of activities
• have easy access to the interpreters
• view marine education videos and presentations
• view articulated skeletons and further displays (baleen, invertebrate, plankton, whaling artifacts)
• Skeletons of a: killer whale, river otter, sea otter, Pacific white-sided dolphin, Dall's porpoise, harbour seal, bald eagle, Steller sea lion, - displays highlight contrasts between species and species adaptations.
• The suspended skeleton of a ship-struck fin whale (2nd largest animal species to ever have lived).
• An interactive setting in which works in progress include: a pygmy sperm whale and a juvenile harbour porpoise
• Testimony to the work of Dr. Michael Bigg and the importance of the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve.
• Skulls of sea lions, bears, sperm whale, and a multitude of baleen whales.
• Further amazing artifacts such as blue whale jaw, whale lice, ear ossicles, whale teeth and a variety of samples of baleen.
• Children's games and experiments to illuminate marine mammal adaptations.... and so much more!
These displays will allow visitors to gain an understanding of marine mammal adaptations and stresses within their environment (e.g. why marine noise may be more disruptive to toothed whales and why baleen whales may be more subject to entanglement and ship strikes). The Johnstone Strait and Broughton Archipelago areas are very much in need of continued education due to these areas being renowned for marine mammal diversity and abundance.
The Centre will offer community slide shows that feature the listed species and other local marine mammals. The presentations address local and global habitat stewardship issues, but also help the public to identify different marine mammals and their role within the ecosystem.
Copyright ©2015 The Whale Interpretive Centre. All rights reserved.
Web Services by Beal Design.