Almost all the specimens you see in the gallery is well covered with POISON - arsenic, mercury, methanol or formalin. Therefore, please do not touch anything, even if it looks good enough to cuddle! The specimens contain poison because they all originate from living material. Once an organism dies, a natural process of decomposition begins, and ends only when the entire animal or plant is reduced to dust. This breakdown is carried out by enzymes, bacteria, insects and other organisms, all of which are living. Thus, in order to stop decomposition, i.e. to preserve, poison is applied.

Rare & old

In a celebration of this new Public Gallery, we have made an effort to display rare treasures that have been hidden from the public eye for decades. Some of the specimens are very old, dating back 150 years or more. They may be fragile, and prodding fingers can cause much damage. Taxidermised specimens (the ones that look life-like) are no longer made and the mammals and birds are no longer collected by biologists these days. This collection is part of a Southeast Asian natural heritage and should be treated with respect.

Specimens are treated with poisonous substances (i.e. arsenic, formalin, etc.) for preservation purposes, so be sure not to touch them.

Specimens that are overexposed to light over time will  decolourise and be damaged. Not only does this lower the information that it provides, other members of the public will miss out on its full glory! Therefore, we firmly advise that the public refrain from using flash photography in the museum.

No banging on the tanks

Any live animals that might be showcased in the museum also require some peace and quiet. By banging on the tanks, you are scaring the animals. Young children have to be supervised by their parents and teachers to ensure that this does not happen. 

Please Keep Quiet

A rowdy surrounding disrupts conducive environment for viewing exhibits. Therefore, please refrain from excessive noise. Parents and teachers are encouraged to monitor the noise level of children in their care. 

• The Biodiversity of Singapore

• Tropical Habitats

• Surprising Singapore

• The Wonderful World of Crabs

• Education

• Things People Eat

• Conservation Issues

• Biodiversity Research & Expeditions

• Raffles the Naturalist

• New Discoveries