Balikuda: Residents of the Balikuda block in Jagatsinghpur district have urged the state government to preserve the skeleton of a whale recently found dead near the Devi River mouth, and establish a museum in the Bandar village area to house it. The carcass of the massive whale was discovered four days ago at Nadiakhia under the Marine Police Station limits. As soon as the news of the plan to shift the skeleton spread, strong reactions started pouring in from locals, who argued that the whale’s remains should be preserved in Bandar village itself. They maintained that the area, home to the Maa Bandarei shrine, already attracts thousands of visitors during the tourist season. A museum showcasing the whale skeleton, they contend, would further boost tourism and compel the government to recognise Bandar village as a tourist destination.