But a group of pupils from five south-west schools saw the inflatable mammal with their own eyes and even got to have a look inside it.

The display was held to launch the Dolphin Research Institute "i sea, i care" Marine Ambassador project, held in conjunction with south-west CoastCare/Coast Action.

The group of about 12 pupils from grades five and six are marine ambassadors at their respective schools and attended the session to learn more about the Victorian coast and how to make presentations to their classmates. T

he pupils from St Patrick's Primary in Port Fairy, Port Fairy Consolidated, Hawkesdale, Merrivale and Portland South primary schools sat inside the whale while the institute's education director Ben Camm explained the wonders of the Victorian coastline.

"At least 85 per cent of Victoria's marine life is endemic and yet our research indicates that 90 per cent of Victorians still value Queensland's marine environment above our own," Mr Camm said.

"With the help of a tribe of young marine Ambassadors we are starting to turn this around."

The inflatable whale helped convey the scale of the creatures the pupils, as ambassadors, were working to protect, he said.