Suzie, the southern right whale exhibit at the Great White House in Gansbaai, recently received a beautiful heart created by renowned taxidermist, Piet Pretorius, who originally worked on and placed the skeleton.
The Great White House then employed the services of artist Lachlan Matthews, who painted on the vascular system. Both Piet and Lachlan have been responsible for much of the artwork at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary.
The deceased whale was originally found floating off Danger Point in September 2005 and was towed to Pearly Beach. It took quite a few years for Piet to prepare this only privately owned exhibit in South Africa which was placed at the Great White House in 2012. Over the years, examples of the eardrum, eye and nerve path have been added as well as some baleen plates. The heart is a powerful addition to this display and guests have been awed by its size.
Did you know? A southern right whale heart has to pump 3 000 litres of blood and pumps at a rate of 16 to 20 beats per minute.
