A hyper-realistic model of a beached whale has been left at the edge of the world’s largest lake – and stunned locals think it’s real.
Jalil Najafov captured a video of the installation, which was placed on the side of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 11 November.
The sperm whale model, which measures 52-foot, was used for a project Jalil was part of at COP29 – the annual climate conference.
And now crowds are gathering to catch a glimpse of the giant marine mammal.
“The sighting of a whale in Baku became an absolute sensation, stirring excitement and wonder across Azerbaijan,” Jalil, who is from Azerbaijan, told What’s The Jam.
“It was all anyone could talk about – a rare, magical moment that brought the sea right to our shores.
“Riding the wave of this incredible energy, we channelled the public’s fascination and curiosity toward our FINS project, making it a powerful call to action for ocean conservation.”
The hyper-realistic whale was actually made using moulds from real whales and carries an unpleasant smell due to the buckets of rotting fish which have been hidden close by.
It was created by an organisation called Captain Boomer, a Belgian-based collective of actors, sculptors and scientists, who are trying to raise awareness of global ecological destruction.
This includes the human climate crisis, which is why it was presented at COP29.
Jalil said: “We brought this installation from The Captain Boomer Collective’s ‘Whale’ project to Baku during COP29 to underscore the urgent message of our FINS initiative.
“FINS Initiative focuses on the conservation of sharks, whales, and other marine life severely impacted by human activities like the fin trade.
“The whale installation, with its visceral presence, is meant to stir public emotion and action.
“We want this to highlight the need for sustainable practices and stronger protections for vulnerable species.”
Since it was created a decade ago, the model whale has been touring cities and coasts, from Europe to Australia.
Jalil feels that he was able to draw significant attention to FINS initiative.
He said: “The sight of the whale captivated everyone, leading them to discover and engage with the FINS project.”
COP29, known as The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, began on 11 November and will conclude on 22 November.
This year it is being held in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan.
