Three environmental NGOs have launched a campaign, demanding the release of a 37 million year old whale being held in Cairo Airport’s Cargo Village. The skeleton was returned to Egypt from the US after it underwent restoration at Michigan University, for no charge.

Al-Masry Al-Youm reported yesterday that customs are asking the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) to pay LE200,000 in duties.

National Geographic's August issue publishes the story of the whale's discovery and information on other ancient animals who lived in Wadi el-Hitan, or the "Valley of the Whales," in Fayoum. The publication compares the importance of the information revealed by this discovery to that written on the Rosetta stone.

The second problem el-Qaysooni referred to is museum financing: The EEAA is expected to establish the museum, even though it doesn’t have the necessary resources.

According to el-Qaysouni, a suitable museum can be built in 60 days - using the environmental resources of the nature reserve, on a medium budget.

Translated from the Arabic Edition.

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