Progreso, Yucatan — The restored whale skeleton recently unveiled on a new stretch of malecon would seem to be vulnerable to mischief-makers or careless visitors.
So municipal police will protect it, guarding it 24 hours a day, local officials said.
Being one of the main attractions of the International Malecon de Progreso, after the carousel, the whale attracted a huge crowd when it debuted on Friday and on the following day.
It’s a naturally fragile exhibit, its 310 pieces glued together and completely exposed to the elements. It will need special waterproofing every three years. Its metal brackets are meant to keep it together during storms.
Even during its assembly, it was clear that some ribs were fractured, which occurred when the four-ton, 15-meter / 49-foot whale stranded on a nearby beach in 2016.
Visitors were asked to be mindful of doing anything that might harm the exhibit. So no posing for selfies while riding the whale.
