A Virtual Necropsy: Applications of 3D Scanning for Marine Mammal Pathology and Education

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Most whale biologists spend their careers in boats, getting a glimpse at whales only when they come up to the surface to breathe or occasionally to feed. Being able to walk right up to a whale, and even look inside its body, offers scientists and stranding network volunteers a rare and meaningful opportunity to learn from whales at close range. On 14 March 2021, a female adult humpback whale was found dead on a beach near Sitka, Alaska. A team of volunteers performed a necropsy, meaning they dissected the whale to gather information about its cause of death and collected samples for further research (NOAA Fisheries permit 18786-01). Before, during and after the necropsy, the whale was three-dimensionally (3D) scanned using a drone and an iPad. These scans were annotated and arranged into a free publicallyavailable resource known as the 4D virtual necropsy (with time as the 4th dimension). After one month, we documented broad interest in this resource from researchers, educators, community members, and volunteers who respond to marine mammal strandings. We believe 3D scanning of future stranded animals will be useful for a wide range of applications. ABSTRACT: Stranded large whales represent an opportunity to learn about the anatomy and health of these cryptic free-ranging animals. However, where time and access is frequently limited, law enforcement and management priorities often take precedence over research, outreach, and educational uses. On 14 March 2021, a dead female adult humpback whale was reported stranded on an uninhabited island 15 miles west of Sitka, Alaska. The whale was three-dimensionally scanned using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and photogrammetry before, during, and at multiple time points after a necropsy, including full decomposition 17 days later (NOAA Fisheries permit 18786-01). These scans were organized and displayed on the site Sketchfab with annotations and made publically available as a “4D virtual necropsy” (the fourth dimension is time). After one month, our user survey indicated widespread interest in the platform by both the local community and worldwide by stranding professionals, researchers, and educators. We are unaware of another 3D scan involving a large whale with soft tissue for teaching, research, or public display, despite the ease of 3D scanning with current technologies and the wide-ranging applications.