Scientists thaw 78 stone squid

Apr 29 2008 Media Wales

NEW Zealand marine scientists are thawing the corpse of the largest squid to be caught, in an attempt to unlock some of the secrets of one of the ocean’s most mysterious beasts.

The 78-stone, 26ft long squid was removed from its freezer yesterday and put into a tank filled with saline solution – the first step of a plan that will eventually put it on public display.

Ice will be added to the tank today to slow the thawing process so the outer flesh does not start rotting before the animal is fully defrosted, says Carol Diebel, director of natural environment at New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa.

Tomorrow, squid specialists Steve O’Shea and Kat Bolstad of Auckland’s University of Technology will begin a detailed examination of the creature, along with Tsunemi Kubodera of Japan’s National Museum of Nature and Science.