IRISH CETACEAN
GENETIC TISSUE BANK

A collaboration began between the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History and the IWDG in 2006 to collect tissue samples from stranded cetaceans.

The project initially received funding from the Heritage Council to supply members of the IWDG stranding network with scalpels, labels and preservatives to collect skin samples which would then be posted to the Natural History Museum for storage and purchase a freezer for storage. The tissue bank contains samples from over 1000 individuals varying from fin whales to harbour porpoises and even elusive beaked whales.

The samples are available to researchers submit a request for access which is evaluated by a panel of cetacean and genetic experts. To date at least ten studies worldwide have accessed samples, building our knowledge of Irish whales, dolphins and porpoises.

For more details on how to get involved contact strandings@iwdg.ie