Thiruvananthapuram Natural History Museum
Established in 1964, it has one of the most exhaustive collections among the Natural History Museums in the country. Formerly, the natural history collections were displayed in the eastern side gallery of Art museum. Based on the recommendations of Museums of India Survey committee a separate building housing the collection was built. TNHM illustrates an excellent attempt made in the field of natural history collections, display of teaching collections and panoramic display of animals in their natural habitat dioramas. These equally interesting and fascinating collections entertains and educate the general public as well. The panoramas so created signifies the present-day relevance of in-situ conservation of wildlife and their habitats. The display provides exhaustive information, facts and figures concerning the whole of animal kingdom from the tiny creatures such as ants and termites to that of the largest whale. The museum also has an enormous animal collection in storage and repository.
One may get dismayed with the exhaustive collection of variety of avifauna which provides unparalleled ornithological study and research opportunities. In the mid-19th Century, the colonial network of scientific institutions was involved in collection, distribution of Natural History objects. Under the curatorship of HS Ferguson, the museum obtained novel orientation. He undertook the collection and arrangement of museum Specimens from 1888. He accompanied by the taxidermist of Travancore ‘travelled in the district and collected some specimens. Also, during the early period of H S Ferguson’s administration, bird skin was purchased from Mr. Davidson. Another significant addition to the taxidermy specimens were a collection of 57 birds of Travancore Ornithological Survey worked out by Mr H. Whistler of England and forwarded it to his Highness Maharaja of Travancore, who presented them to Museum. During Ferguson’s period the whole birds of Travancore are displayed mounted and there was a good series of skins set for study. A good collection of birds collected by the famous Ornithologist Dr.Salim Ali during his study on Birds of Travancore is also included in the HS Ferguson’s repository.
About the Collections
The display of the museum starts with the 20 million years old petrified wood fossils displayed near the entrance of the Museum. These fossilized tree trunks were collected from the National Fossil Park, Thiruvakkara, Tamilnadu
Entrance Gallery
Birds Gallery
Skeleton Gallery
Mammals’ Gallery
Vertebrate Section
Index Gallery
Invertebrate Section
Geological Collections
Economic Botany Collections
H S Ferguson’s Repository
Catalogue
Staff Structure
| Designation | Nos |
|---|---|
| Superintendent | 1 |
| Curator | 1 |
| Guide Lecturer | 1 |
| Taxidermist | 1 |
| Draft’s Man | 1 |
| Ticket Attender | 1 |
| Lab Assistant | 1 |
| Lab Attendant | 1 |
| Gallery Assistant | 1 |
| Gallery Attendant | 1 |
| Cleaner | 3 |
| Artist Modeller | 1 |
- Adjacent to Directorate office
Superintendent
TNHM, Phone number: 960 500 8158
Email – tvm.nhm@gmail.com
TNHM, Phone number: 960 500 8158
Email – tvm.nhm@gmail.com
