Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi Invites Public to Name T.rex and Blue Whale Specimens

The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is offering the public a unique opportunity to name two prominent specimens within its collection: a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton and a 25-metre blue whale. These winning names will be permanently displayed alongside the specimens and featured in educational materials for future generations.

The T.rex specimen is one of only five nearly complete skeletons ever discovered, while the blue whale is the largest animal known to have existed. The museum encourages participants to submit original names that reflect scientific, historical, or storytelling significance, and ideally translate well across Arabic and English.

How to Participate

The competition opened on October 5 and will close on October 25. Participants can submit names for either or both specimens, with no limit on the number of suggestions. The application process involves:

• Visiting the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi website.
• Clicking on the "Name two giants. Your chance to make history" icon.
• Selecting "submit a name" for the T.rex, Blue Whale, or both.
• Filling out the proposed name and its supporting reasoning.
• Providing personal details, including name, contact number, email, and nationality.
• Submitting the completed form.

Selection Process and Recognition

Following the submission deadline, a jury comprising experts from the museum and the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) will evaluate the entries. The winners are expected to be announced in November, and each will receive a commemorative prize from the museum.

This competition is for informal names, as species receive their formal scientific names upon discovery. The museum already houses specimens named after Abu Dhabi, such as *Abudhabia baynunensis*, an extinct gerbil; *Hipparion abudhabiense*, an extinct three-toed horse; and *Stegotetrabelodon emiratus*, a four-tusked elephant. The existing T.rex, "Stan," is named after its discoverer, Stan Sacrison. The newly acquired T.rex and the female blue whale, which washed ashore in Canada in 2021, are the two specimens awaiting their new, publicly chosen names.