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Narwhal Tusk On Display At Maritime Aquarium; Talk Planned

NORWALK, Conn. – The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is displaying a rare 7-foot narwhal tusk that’s on loan now through April 7.

Viewing the tusk are, from left: Nina Alexakis, 4 of Dumont, N.J.; Jaelin Murphy, 5, of Bergenfield, N.J.; Natalia Ramirez, 5, of Dumont, N.J.; and Brooke Mallardi, 4, of Bergenfield, N.J.

Viewing the tusk are, from left: Nina Alexakis, 4 of Dumont, N.J.; Jaelin Murphy, 5, of Bergenfield, N.J.; Natalia Ramirez, 5, of Dumont, N.J.; and Brooke Mallardi, 4, of Bergenfield, N.J.

Photo Credit: Contributed
by Charles D'Souza

Cousins to beluga whales, narwhals are called “the unicorns of the sea” because of their single spiraling tusks.

The tusk is on exhibit at The Maritime Aquarium in advance of a lecture on April 7 by Dr. Martin Nweeia, a Sharon dentist who is also one of the top narwhal experts in the United States. Nweeia will share what he has learned about the purpose and function of narwhal tusks. Tickets for the 8 p.m. talk are $10 or $8 for aquarium members.

Narwhal tusks are treasured by collectors and by those who seek the ivory. In Canada, the Inuit people may legally harvest narwhals and sell the tusks. However, it is illegal to import the tusks into the United States. The tusk displayed at The Maritime Aquarium is on loan from a Greenwich family that has owned it since long before narwhal protection laws were passed.

Get more details about Nweeia’s April 7 lecture – or reserve tickets – by visiting the aquarium website or by calling 203-852-0700, Ext. 2206.

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