A sperm whale washed up on the waterfront in Zurich? Activists organized an impressive installation
Kyiv • UNN
The Kyma Association brought a 16-meter sperm whale to the embankment of Lake Zurich. The campaign aims to draw attention to the protection of the seas and show that even landlocked countries have an impact on the ecology of the oceans.
The Zurich-based marine conservation association Kyma, together with the Belgian artist collective Captain Boomer and Zurich Theaterspektakel, brought a sperm whale to the lake in the city to draw attention to greater sea protection. This is stated on the organizers' Instagram page, reports UNN.
"This morning (Monday - ed.), a sperm whale was stranded on the Zurich waterfront. Of course, this is a staged event, because sperm whales do not live in Lake Zurich, but in the world's oceans. Together with a Belgian artistic group, we brought the whale to Zurich and send a powerful signal for greater protection of the sea," the organizers of the action said in a statement.
It is also noted that by organizing the rallies, the organizers conveyed a message: maritime protection also affects a landlocked country like Switzerland.
NZZ reports that the sperm whale is lying on the lakefront near Zurich's Utokwai district.
"It was about sixteen meters long and had a fishy smell that intensified by noon. Men in white protective suits have set up a makeshift laboratory. Some of them regularly spray the whale with a hose. They also take samples, measure and remove the carcass. When one of the animal's teeth was removed, a red liquid flowed from its mouth," the publication adds.
Sylvia Frey, a marine biologist at Kyma, said the installation symbolically shows that Switzerland must do its part to protect the seas because, despite the sewage treatment plants, the chemicals and microplastics we use end up in the rivers and with it all the way to the sea. In addition, Switzerland also contributes to global warming, which has a negative impact on the oceans and their inhabitants.
The publication also added that the sperm whale would remain lying there until Wednesday evening, and the police confirmed that they had issued a permit to organize the rally.
