Conny, the life-size sperm whale located at the Connecticut Children’s Museum in West Hartford, CT is looking for a new home. Cetacean Society International (CSI) originally spearheaded the build of Conny almost a half century ago.
Currently, the land that Conny and the museum are situated on has been sold to developers. As the museum searches for a new home, we at CSI want to ensure that Conny has a home as well. It is estimated that it may cost upwards of $100,00 to move Conny within our state. So, CSI has partnered with the Connecticut Children’s museum to raise money for Conny’s big move and for the upkeep afterwards. And we need your help to make that happen. Any donation amount will be much appreciated.
Conny's new home may be just across the street. Read the latest news on Conny:
https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-biz-conny-the-whale-20220711-nizwa4uwdvgrtkjtexekg7ec7m-story.html
More about Conny
With over 200 volunteers and donated materials in 1976, Conny the 60 foot sperm whale was built. The year prior, the sperm whale was declared the state animal of Connecticut and the then-named Connecticut Cetacean Society wanted to build the sperm whale as a symbol to end the slaughter of whales. Though there is a worldwide moratorium on whaling there are still countries that hunt whales including Japan, Norway and Iceland. Whales also have other threats including plastic pollution, ship strikes and entanglement from fishing gear. So Conny still represents the effort to continue to save whales as these threats continue to grow.
Conny is made out of ferro concrete which is a type of concrete built with cement and reinforced with wire mesh throughout. Conny still proudly stands today outside the Connecticut Children's Museum in West Hartford, CT. Robbins Barstow, one of the founding members of CSI and a champion for whales captured the process on film. Please click on the link below to check out some of the footage:
The Building of Conny:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEwSs8QicN0&list=PLNqGp6L6ETR8DSs-X9U8y9r7PlFdzS1_E&index=1&t=30s
Conny Gets a Spout:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlwocFhgYVo&list=PLNqGp6L6ETR8DSs-X9U8y9r7PlFdzS1_E&index=14
