News

ECOTARIUM RECEIVES GENEROUS DONATIONS INCLUDING RARE NARWHAL TUSK

Worcester, MA, January 30, 2025 — The Worcester Natural History Society, Inc., d/b/a EcoTarium, today announced a major gift from benefactors Peter and Joan Dirlam. The Dirlams have contributed whale jawbones, a rare, antique narwhal tusk, six sculptured wood whales by artist Clark Voorhees, Jr., and a generous monetary gift, to establish the Dirlam Fund, for the care and acquisition of animals at the EcoTarium. 

“We are tremendously grateful to the Dirlam family for their generous support of our non-releasable wildlife and animal ambassadors at the Museum”, said Noreen Smith, President & CEO of the EcoTarium. “The fascinating narwhal tusk and carved whales will be displayed for public enjoyment and will contribute to our environmental education programs.” 

Narwhals are classified as a protected species with the marine population estimated at over 170,000 mature individuals. Mr. Dirlam is an avid outdoorsman and collector who acquired the narwhal tusk through a legal purchase from the Alaskan Native Arts Society, prior to the establishment of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in 1972. 

The tusk of the narwhal is a long, spiraled tooth growing straight out of the narwhal’s head. All males and approximately 15% of females produce a single tusk. Some male narwhals may grow two tusks. The exact function of the tusk remains a topic of scientific curiosity, but it is known to contain millions of nerve endings, making it a significant sensory organ for the narwhal.  

For more information about the EcoTarium, please visit https://ecotarium.org/.

Peter Dirlam with 210cm (7 feet) narwhal tusk

Voorhees sculpture of the Narwhal Whale