Hunting orca in rolling dive
​Fort Bragg, California

The body of this 26' male Gulf of Alaska mammal-eating Biggs orca washed up just south of Fort Bragg, California in 2015.  He was lying on his left side so his photo identity match could not be confirmed.  His body was in good condition and the remains of six harbour seals were found in his stomach at the time of his death.  The probable cause of his death was heart failure.  He was found entangled in crab-pot line.  

This project was our second highly successful community-based skeleton project with the Noyo Centre for Marine Science and renowned educator and bone builder, Lee Post.  After remotely advising on skeleton preparation, over four weeks, we worked with Lee and the Noyo Centre to train volunteers from all over the U.S. who came to participate in our workshops and be led through all stages of the process to create this skeleton exhibit in a publicly a open workshop.  This skeleton was brought to life by the hands of many people and it is truly a local legacy.

This stunning male is the largest orca skeleton on display in the world.  The articulation was completed with custom internal steel armature and provisioned for suspension or floor-mount.  The skeleton has no replicated cartilage to accentuate the perfect form of each individual bone in the skeleton. He is mounted in a dynamic and life-breathing posture, represented as the formidable hunter he was.  He dives downward, twisting and rolling to capture his exhausted prey between powerful jaws.  ​