There are a lot of whales off the coast of Maine, but one woman is making waves traveling the state with one.Jessica Woodend is a wildlife educator and conservation advocate with a degree in Natural Resource Management and the founder of “Within the Whale” in Topsham.As part of her dynamic programs, she takes an inflatable whale around Maine in the back of her minivan, allowing people to actually go inside a whale.”A lot of them ask if they can move in, or at least have a slumber party inside the whale,” said Woodend.The whale, named Chunk, is 43 feet long and has been touring the state since February. As many as 20 children or 15 adults can fit inside at one time.”It got really busy, really fast, and it’s just been non-stop since, which has been so great,” said Woodend.Chunk is named in honor of a popular humpback whale who died in the summer of 2024 after getting entangled off the coast of Maine. The inflatable Chunk has the same distinctive missing piece from its dorsal fin as the real one.”I’ve spun it in a positive way to continue Chunk’s story, and to continue learning from her and about her,” said Woodend.Woodend says she had seen inflatable whales in other states and decided late last year to get in on the fun herself.She now goes all over the state, visiting schools, libraries and more, bringing people inside through an airlock near the rear of the whale, so they can see inflatable organs inside. Not only are her visits proving to be very popular, she is getting noticed on social media all over the country.”Just to see how well received it’s been this first year makes it all worth it, and I can’t imagine doing anything else now,” she said.Woodend says she plans to start taking Chunk out of Maine in 2026, including to the landlocked state of Michigan.
TOPSHAM, Maine —
There are a lot of whales off the coast of Maine, but one woman is making waves traveling the state with one.
Jessica Woodend is a wildlife educator and conservation advocate with a degree in Natural Resource Management and the founder of “Within the Whale” in Topsham.
As part of her dynamic programs, she takes an inflatable whale around Maine in the back of her minivan, allowing people to actually go inside a whale.
“A lot of them ask if they can move in, or at least have a slumber party inside the whale,” said Woodend.
The whale, named Chunk, is 43 feet long and has been touring the state since February. As many as 20 children or 15 adults can fit inside at one time.
“It got really busy, really fast, and it’s just been non-stop since, which has been so great,” said Woodend.
Chunk is named in honor of a popular humpback whale who died in the summer of 2024 after getting entangled off the coast of Maine. The inflatable Chunk has the same distinctive missing piece from its dorsal fin as the real one.
“I’ve spun it in a positive way to continue Chunk’s story, and to continue learning from her and about her,” said Woodend.
Woodend says she had seen inflatable whales in other states and decided late last year to get in on the fun herself.
She now goes all over the state, visiting schools, libraries and more, bringing people inside through an airlock near the rear of the whale, so they can see inflatable organs inside. Not only are her visits proving to be very popular, she is getting noticed on social media all over the country.
“Just to see how well received it’s been this first year makes it all worth it, and I can’t imagine doing anything else now,” she said.
Woodend says she plans to start taking Chunk out of Maine in 2026, including to the landlocked state of Michigan.