Museum of Taxidermy

The Museum of Taxidermy at the Dinajpur Government College was established during the mid-1950s by Giovanni Barbe and has a collection of over 400 taxidermy specimens representing animals from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Today, the Museum is located in the Zoological Department at Dinajpur Government College and is widely recognised as an educational and research tool for education professionals and researchers.

The collection contains specimens of 166 species of birds, displayed in their natural behaviours. Examples include kingfishers ready to dive, woodpeckers poised to drill a hole into the tree bark, and sparrows pecking at food. Aside from birds, the collection is also home to many species of mammals, including foxes, mongooses, dogs, etc. In addition, there are hundreds of preserved specimens, in excess of 500 glass jars of formaldehyde, containing specimens of snakes, amphibians, crustaceans, marine invertebrates, etc, as well as specimens of human organs.

Although many specimens have decayed or deteriorated due to long-term storage, many teachers and students still find the collection to be an excellent resource for learning about zoology, identifying specimens, and conducting research. Faculty members are doing what they can to continue to care for and preserve many of the specimens. Many have succumbed to natural causes, but the Faculty continues to conduct research and support those who conduct research in the care and preservation of the collection.