Whales: Wonders Of The Ocean

Learn all about the gentle giants of the sea in this robotic traveling exhibition from WonderWorks. This exhibit tells their 54-million-year-old story, from early life on land to their journey back to the sea. Life-size robotic whales illustrate the major categories of whale origins, adaptions and behavior from feeding and reproduction to swimming, vocalization, respiration, and diving. The exhibit will feature full-sized robotic versions of a Baby Gray whale, a Humpback whale and an Orca, and animated heads of a Northern Right whale and a Sperm whale.

Whales are the descendants of land living mammals of the Artiodactyl order. Whales are the closest living relatives of hippos! They both evolved from a common ancestor at around 54 million years ago. Whales entered the water roughly 50 million years ago. These cetaceans are divided into two suborders: Baleen whales which have a sieve-like structure in the upperj aw made of keratin that is used to filter plankton; and toothed whales which have teeth and prey on fish and squid.

Humpback WhaleLike all mammals, whales breathe air into lungs, are warm-blooded, and feed their young milk from mammary glands, and have some hair. Whales breathe through blowholes located on the top of the head so the animal can remain submerged. Baleen whales have two blowholes, while toothed whales only have one. Whales have a unique respiratory system that lets them stay underwater for long periods of time without taking in oxygen. Sperm whales are known to stay underwater for up to two hours holding a single breath!

Whales live from 40 to 200 years, depending on their species, but it is rare to find one that lives over a century. Whale flukes are often used to identify whales and they communicate with each other using lyrical sounds. Being so large and powerful, whales sounds are extremely loud and can be heard for many miles.

The exhibit features several participatory stations where visitors can learn to identify whales the way scientists do; by their songs, their markings, their fins and tails, and their behavior. The six large motorized creatures on exhibit operate on air pressure and were constructed in Los Angeles. Andrewsarchus will be the first motorized creature to greet visitors as they enter the show.

AndrewsarchusThis hairy, ugly, land-dwelling mammal with a snout is included in the exhibit because it belongs to a group of primitive carnivorous land mammals dating back 50 million years, which scientists believe may have been the predecessors of whales. The subsequent displays feature a tail-waving orca, a lanky basilosaurus, and the gray whale with a calf, among others. Inside each creature is an aluminum and steel robotic skeleton.

The movements of the robotic whales are controlled by a computer mounted in the creature’s base. The computer regulates the flow of compressed air through a series of air lines and valves to various cylinders. As air is forced through the system, it causes the piston inside each cylinder to move in and out. Large cylinders are used for tail and flipper movements, while small cylinders are used for the eye and mouth movements. A sound system, controlled by the same computer, is mounted in the base and is used to create life-like whale sounds. The skin is made from thick foam with a flexible elastimer coating that shows all the bumps and folds of the full-size clay sculpture. The whales’ creators have gone to great lengths to make the exhibit as authentic as possible, including putting lice and barnacles on some of the whales and even the sounds of the thumping whale heartbeat.

Admissions Rates:

Free Admission to Bishop Museum Members

General - Adult $ 15.95
General - Senior, 65 & over $ 12.95
General - child (ages 4-12) $ 12.95
General - child (age 3 & under) Free

The following rates are available for kama'āina and military visitors to Bishop Museum:
$7.95 - General Admissison
$6.95 - Child (4-12) and Senior (65+)

You will need to show an ID to secure these rates.

Guests visiting the Bishop Museum who are not local residents or military, but are accompanied by someone who is can get a special rate of adults $12.95, youth $9.95, and children 3 and under are free. Otherwise, regular retail admission rates will apply.