Tricky Squid

The biggest squid in history is presenting a colossal challenge to scientists and curators at New Zealand's National Museum.(Title is link to previous post)

Their problem is how to handle the ten-metre giant after they thaw it out.

The half-ton squid was very gently landed by the crew of a New Zealand trawler long-lining for toothfish in Antarctic waters last month, the largest catch of its kind.

It was frozen for safe keeping and sent off to New Zealand's national museum where scientists are now faced with the challenge of safely thawing it out so it can be studied.

Conventional procedures may take so long the squid's outer tissue could deteriorate, so infra-red technology is being considered to accelerate the defrosting.

Then there is the equally tricky matter of turning the mysterious creature from the ocean depths into a colossal museum piece.