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Research and Preservation at the Sao Paulo Museum de Zoologia
The Sao Paulo Museum de Zoologia was founded in 1890, when the first Sao Paulo Museum realized that it had quite the extensive collection of animals – and nowhere to display them! Thus, the government set out to build and increase their collection of zoological artifacts, placing them within their own building – and in January of 1939, the Department of Zoology was created! Then in 1941, the state’s zoological collection was fully inaugurated as the Zoological Museum Sao Paulo, and it would later become associated with research and development at the University of Sao Paulo.
The aim of the museum here is not only to educate the public, but also to do reference studies, research, and development in terms of local and international zoology. There are over 8 million specimens either on display or being studied, and almost all zoological groups are represented. Frequently, the Sao Paulo Museum de Zoologia receives visits from other international scientists, as well as sending its own team out to other countries to assist in various areas of research.
Two galleries at the museum hold temporary exhibitions for visitors to enjoy, and these will vary according to what collection is on loan at the time. These are fairly popular and enjoy about 60,000 visitors per year, though they may sometimes be more suitable for younger children. The permanent exhibitions are, however, focused on allowing the visitor to have a clear understanding of the research that goes on at the Museum de Zoologia. The exhibition is titled: “Research in Zoology: Biodiversity According to the Zoologist”, and it is divided into four sections that make up the bulk of the museum.
There are approximately 1,000 specimens on display in this permanent exhibition at the Sao Paulo Museum de Zoologia, since the entire collection simply can’t be shown all at once! Many of the specimens are specifically at the museum for research purposes, however it is possible to arrange tours throughout the lab facilities. These collections can be seen by small groups, as long as the museum is notified ahead of time so that a suitable hour can be arranged.
The Sao Paulo Museum de Zoologia is a fascinating look at the biodiversity of South America and how it interacts with the rest of the world, and the research being done here is truly priceless. If you can, take a tour around the rest of the facilities, as it will certainly help in understanding the importance of the research that is done here and how it will impact various species across the globe in a positive way. The location of the museum is on Avenida Nazare 481, and you may phone for more information or to arrange a tour at (11)6165-8100. Regular visiting hours are from Tuesday through Sunday, 10am until 5pm.
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