In Search of Giant Squid

Edward Percival Field Station, Kaikoura

Situated virtually on the shore, with panoramic views of sea and mountains, the field station has residential facilities for staff and students and laboratory facilities for maintaining live animals for study. Most second and third year zoology students attend a week's intensive field course at Kaikoura to learn field techniques, whilst observing animals in their natural surroundings and studying their relationships with other animals and plants. The laboratory has a new, high quality seawater system suitable for aquaculture research.

The George Knox Research Laboratory was opened in 1986 and provides accommodation for research students and visiting scientists. The building includes a large general research laboratory, a library, computer facilities, a smaller workroom and tank rooms as well as a large covered general working area. An aquarium building is associated with the research laboratory and this contains displays which are open to the public.

The Field Station is administered by the Zoology Department of the University of Canterbury and has a full-time station manager, Mr Jack van Berkel.

For pictures and a description of some of the activities that take place at the Edward Percival Field Station, take a look at the March 11th dispatch at National Geographic's Kaikoura web site.

Smithsonian Giant Squid Overview Page

gene carl feldman / gene@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov