RAJSHAHI, Jun 04: The lion was standing firmly, while a crocodile was taking rest. Even, anyone may be surprised to see animals all together in the same room at the same time, although, the animals were not alive. It is a museum of the Zoology Department at Rajshahi University.
There have from mammal animal to reptile animal or marine animal. Here also have living fossil to the skeleton. People may have a chance to learn about all most animals from this museum.
The museum preserves over 850 specimens comprising about 45 genera of mammals, 15 amphibians, 250 are fishes, 40 species of birds and reptiles, 50 arthropods and over 95 genera of other invertebrates, Dr. Anjum Ara, deputy curator of the museum said,.
Like that huge zoological collection those have no any other museum in Bangladesh. If someone take entry into this museum, it is seen the peacock with its colourful wings, poisonous snake and the crocodiles beside peacock. There are also lions and thousands of fish, sea corals, conch, snails, and mussels next do it. It is unimaginable to see these so many species of animals with together.
Many of these animals have already disappeared. But they are easily found at the "Professor Mustafizur Rahman Memorial Museum", at Zoology Department of RU that has been established in 1969 in the name of former departmental teacher Prof. Mustafizur Rahman.
The museum is so rich that is still unique to the country, claim the authority.
But this rich museum has been behind the scene. Many zoologists or searchers do not know regarding this. Even this is also unknown to the students of RU.
It is such a museum that there are mummies of many animals like crocodiles, gharial, oysters, snakes, peacocks, birds and monkeys.
Anyone can see them around the museum.
Besides, the museum preserves some 1,543 animals body out of 442 series those are included from Porifera phase to Chordata phase. Among them are all kinds of birds, reptiles, and mammals. There are elephants and horses skeletons in addition to human skeleton.
Among these animals there are 142 species of fossils which are currently very rare. Here some of the animals have been preserved in dry condition and some have been preserved with formalin. Apart from this, 96 species of fish have been collected from Rajshahi city and adjacent areas.
RU is closed on every Friday and Saturday, so the visitors can go to the museum remaining five days from 9am to 5pm. But entry no fees are charged from visitors to visit the museum.
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