So it has finally happened – Dippy the Diplodocus has been replaced by a blue whale skeleton named Hope at the Natural History Museum in London after the replica dinosaur vacated the place last year.
After six months of refurbishments, the museum’s Hintze Hall is reopening to the public on July 14 to showcase its latest attraction.
But the museum went ahead, and now, the famous fossil will be going on a nationwide tour of museums and galleries.
Meanwhile, the internet appeared to be pretty excited about the museum’s newest resident attraction.
Blue Whale skeleton in the Natural History Museum? My inner child is climaxing
— Dominic Stewart (@TheDominator93) July 13, 2017
Giving it all up to become a curator/skeleton assembler. This looks awesome. https://t.co/l8pW5w6rdz
— Frankie Edwards (@FKedwards) July 13, 2017
National history museum has now got a blue whale skeleton inside WTFFF i need to go.
— Conor (@Mew_Rs) July 13, 2017
wow the new blue whale skeleton in the natural history museum looks absolutely incredible
— ruby (@rubesep_) July 13, 2017
Also, despite my disdain for the public reasoning surrounding Dippy’s removal I am really looking forward to seeing the #BlueWhale in situe.
— Alexandra Milne (@Alexandra_Milne) July 13, 2017
Good luck #BlueWhale – Dippy was great, but the bluewhale was my goto exhibit as a child. ? https://t.co/iryyt6PkCA
— Rebecca (@Fineaspect) July 13, 2017
Unlike Dippy, who is a replica, many were impressed by the fact that Hope is the real deal (no offence, Dippy).
Dippy the Dinosaur from the natural history museum was a fraud, damn straight they’re replacing it with a real blue whale skeleton
— Charlotte@HyperJapan (@cookies4EVER121) July 13, 2017
At least the Blue Whale is gonna be a real skeleton. Dippy is a fake.
— J.C. Morris (@FightFan1972jc) July 13, 2017
The blue whale is the largest known animal on Earth.
After coming close to extinction, the animal became protected under international law in 1966, after which the blue whale population slowly began to increase.