When something unusual washes ashore on Texel, Arthur is present to find out what it is and make sure it’s handled properly. That is certainly the case when it’s a whale, and happening more often than you’d expect! However, in all those years, ambergris was only found once, in the intestines of a dead sperm whale. The animal was well past midlife, stranded on the sandbank Razende Bol near Texel on December 15, 2012. Ecomare sold the substance. From the proceeds, a wonderful hall was built exhibiting seven complete whale skeletons.
Arthur Oosterbaan
Arthur is an all-round field biologist. He’s been working for many years as curator and nature guide at Ecomare, the center for Wadden and North Sea on the island of Texel. Ecomare is a nature museum, a visitors center, an information center for the Wadden Sea World Heritage and a sanctuary for seals and seabirds.
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