Omura’s whale is a newly-discovered species of whale, which was confirmed to be a separate species after a detailed genetic analysis done in 2003. It is a rare species of whale full of mystery even until today. There is still a lot that remains unknown about this species such as its population and behavior. In 2014, a 10.8-metre long Omura’s whale stranded on a beach at the Hung Shek Mun, Tai Po. The staff from the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences and students from various departments of CityU have defleshed the whole skeleton and 3D printed a half size model.
WOW (Walking with Omura’s Whale Programme), being one of the programmes under Jockey Club Enhancing Youth Empathy Project through Immersive Visualisation, was launched in January 2017. It aims at creating a multimedia presentation about the life of the Omura’s whale and other marine lives by using a mix of virtual and augmented reality technologies, mobile apps and games. CityU students, as our Ocean Ambassadors, will create and demonstrate the multimedia products through various visits and exhibitions, in order to increase empathy for nature and arouse public awareness in conservation and nature.