SC Wednesday Talk:  Burton Lim, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy, ROM, “Great Whales: Up Close and Personal” January 4, 2023, 2-4pm

Speaker:  Burton Lim, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy, ROM

Title:  “Great Whales: Up Close and Personal”

Introducer: Jim Gurd

Abstract: The great whales include the largest animals that have ever lived on earth, but we know so little about them and some are on the brink of extinction.  A recent exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum showcased the extraordinary biology of these magnificent leviathans, including the real skeletons of the biggest of them all (blue whale), the largest living toothed species (sperm whale), and the most critically endangered marine mammal (right whale).  Each has a personal story that is brought back to life to better understand their importance to the ocean ecosystems and the need to ensure the conservation of nature for future generations.

Bio: Burton Lim has been assistant curator of mammalogy at the Royal Ontario Museum for four decades.  He received his doctoral degree from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto.  His main research interests are in the biodiversity and evolution of mammals with a particular focus on tropical bats.  But in 2014, he helped salvage the bones of a blue whale that washed ashore in western Newfoundland, which began his interest in these aquatic animals.

The link to register is https://forms.office.com/r/SRQp4WkZ1C . The deadline to register is the Monday before the event at noon. The Zoom link will be sent to registrants only.