Smoke, a 21-foot-long North Atlantic right whale makes her island debut in the 17th Annual Tybee Irish Heritage Celebration Parade Saturday, March 9.
Maria Procopio
Tybee Island Marine Science Center
912-786-5917
maria@tybeemarinescience.org
Tybee Island, GA: Smoke, a 23-year-old female, is key to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center’s Ocean Outreach program and travels to the Savannah/Chatham County Public School Systems’ elementary schools to teach students about these magnificent creatures. On Saturday, March 9, at 3 PM, a 21-foot, inflatable replica of Smoke will make her island debut in the 17th Annual Tybee Irish Heritage Celebration Parade.
This weekend’s celebration is perfect timing for Smoke and her debut. Right whales calve off the coast of Georgia from November to March. Smoke has had three calves and is due to have another this season. The North Atlantic right whale is one of the rarest whale species in the world, with fewer than 425 individuals remaining of this critically endangered species.
Smoke will be joined by Science Center staffers in Saturday’s parade. Staffers will walk in the parade alongside Smoke and pass out informative cards about the endangered species of North Atlantic right whales.
On parade day, the Science Center will be open from 10 AM to 2 PM to host a variety of free, outdoor activities for parade goers to enjoy.
Science Center outdoor activities include whale artifacts, an opportunity to meet center residents like Maize the corn snake and Zelda the box turtle, sea turtle sunbathing, sidewalk chalk plankton, calf, and adult right whale measurement comparisons, and more.
About the Tybee Island Marine Science Center: The Tybee Island Marine Science Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to cultivate responsible stewardship of coastal Georgia’s natural resources through education, conservation, and research. For more information, please visit www.tybeemarinescienc.org.
