Asst.Prof. Rawin Raviwongse, NSM President National Science Museum Thailand (NSM) revealed on January 31, 2024 that NSM has launched the latest and largest natural science collection center of South East Asia, to gather natural science specimens, taxidermy both dry and wet specimens from all over the world. Those references are requisite and applied for natural science research as scientific evidences of evolution, study the relationship of organism and natural environment. The center also provides a variety of expertise naturalists to explore, conduct research, classify, preserve all the specimens as important references and publicize the knowledge to public.
Asst.Prof. Rawin Raviwongse, NSM President said “NSM Management Center of Natural Science and Taxidermy equipped with knowledge, staffs, venues, entire reference collection and technical expertise in taxidermy. The taxidermy integrated with art and science are appearing realistically, especially the anatomy of preserved animals after death for a long retains in the same characteristics of them, and not damaged by heat, humidity, insects, mold, mice, and cockroaches. It is like bringing a dead animal back to life again with complete, accurate and beautiful appearance.”
“There are a variety of NSM’s outstanding work in stuffing animals using taxidermy techniques, including stuffing large animals, such as elephants, giraffes, bears, buffaloes, panthers, tigers, deer, penguins, dugongs, anacondas, chimpanzees, crocodiles, zebras, as well as stuffing glass antelopes for Khao Kheow Open Zoo. The others are old stuffed animals and being repaired as requested by Dusit Zoo as a way of reserving wildlife in Thailand, including Sumatran rhinoceros and Princess Sirindhorn’s bird and Black-breasted pitta bird. In addition, NSM is preparing to do taxidermy with little dugong or sea cow named “Little Mariam” which died from eating plastic waste in the Thai sea. The stuffed Little Marium will be presented to raise critical awareness of marine and coastal resources. Most recently, NSM has applied wet specimens’ technique and Taxonomy with oarfish or known as “Naga fish”; the deep-sea fish firstly caught in Satul Sea. The operation has been under a cooperation with Satul Provincial Fisheries Office. The Oarfish will be shown in the 2024 National Science and Technology Fair to be held in August 2024. From those references, we may say that the new NSM natural history specimen collection center is the largest and greatest collection center in Southeast Asia.” He spoke.
Prof. Rawin added “NSM as a tourist attraction and science, natural science, technology, and innovation learning center, has a duty to inspire everyone in the society by bringing natural science research studies and convey them through exhibitions, including using the research as an academic reference sample for further studies as well as learning resource for public. This will help to develop and level up the standard of the NSM’s museums to international level, including levelling up knowledge management and linking to be an international biodiversity database effectively.”
