https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Bengal_Natural_History_MuseumBengal Natural History Museum - Revision history2026-10-27T10:08:28ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bengal_Natural_History_Museum&diff=490435&oldid=prevSilentbram at 06:36, 3 March 20262026-03-03T06:36:26Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Infobox museum<br />
| name = Bengal Natural History Museum<br />
| logo =<br />
| image =<br />
| caption =<br />
| map_type = India West Bengal<br />
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal<br />
| former_name =<br />
| established = {{Start date and age|1903|df=yes}}<br />
| location = Darjeeling, West Bengal<br />
| coordinates = {{coord|27.0577428|N|88.252466|E|type:city(111000)_region:IN-WB|display=inline,title}}<br />
| type = [[Natural history museum]]<br />
| visitors =<br />
| director = Mr. Arun Kumar Mukhopadhaya<br />
| publictransit =<br />
| website = https://darjeelingzoo.in/?tab=bnhm<br />
}}<br />
The '''Bengal Natural History Museum'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Bengal Natural History Museum, Darjeeling |url=https://www.darjeeling-tourism.com/darj_00001a.htm |website=www.darjeeling-tourism.com |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref> is a museum in [[Darjeeling]], [[West Bengal]], that exhibits a vast range of natural artifacts and fossils. The museum is home to specimens of over 400 species of birds, 110 species of eggs, 35 species of snakes and 57 species of fish.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bengal Natural History Museum |url=https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/darjeeling/bengal-natural-history-museum.html |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref><br />
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== History ==<br />
The Bengal Natural History Museum was established in 1903 as a small museum in the premises of the Lloyd Botanical Garden under the orders of the then [[Governor-General of India]], Mr. [[George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston|George Nathaniel Curzon]]. At the time, setting up the museum cost INR 14,000. Due to increasing visitors and growing collections, the museum was shifted to a different location in 1915. Towards the end of 1923, the Bengal Natural History Society (then called Darjeeling Natural History Society) was formally formed to manage the museum and its activities. From June 1926, the society also started publishing a journal which ran till 1970.<br />
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From 1923 to 1948, [[Charles M. Inglis|Charles M. Inglis]] served as the curator of the museum. He also served as the editor of the Journal of Bengal Natural History Society for many years. Naturalists, foresters, tea planters were members of the society. This included E.O. Shebbeare, conservator of forests of Bengal.<br />
In 1976, the museum was handed over to [[Department of Forest Affairs (West Bengal)|West Bengal Forest Department]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bengal Natural History Museum - trawell |url=https://www.trawell.in/west-bengal/darjeeling/bengal-natural-history-museum |website=www.trawell.in |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref> Under the new management, a new run of the journal ran from 1982 to 1991.<br />
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In 2007, then governor of West Bengal [[Gopalkrishna Gandhi|Gopalkrishna Gandhi]] suggested the museum be moved into the premises of [[Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park]], Darjeeling. Construction of this new building started in 2010 and in 2015, the museum was shifted. The new museum opened for visitors on 23rd July, 2016.<br />
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== Collections ==<br />
=== Birds ===<br />
The collection of [[Bird|birds]] numbers around 697 species out of a listed 713 for the area; those not<br />
represented are exceedingly rare or local. The collection of bird’s eggs (110 species) is also large and that of bird’s nests is small but an attractive one. 229 stuffed specimens are on display now at the museum.<br />
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=== Mammals ===<br />
Out of 80-90 [[mammal]] species found in the area 67 are displayed and are well represented, including many from other parts of India. Prized collection is the rare cats. Unique mammals of the [[Himalayas]] like the [[Red panda|Red Panda]], [[Asian golden cat|Asian Golden Cat]], [[Marbled cat|Marbled Cat]], [[Clouded leopard|Clouded Leopard]] etc. can be seen here.<br />
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=== Reptiles and Fishes ===<br />
Mostly [[wet specimen]]s, the museum has 35 species of [[Snake|snakes]] and 57 types of [[Fish|fishes]].<br />
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=== Insects ===<br />
Insects are very well represented, with over 600 [[butterfly]] and [[moth]] specimens and over 1000 of other insects like [[Dragonfly|dragonflies]], [[Beetle|beetles]], etc. A fraction of them are on display for visitors.<br />
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=== Reserved Collections ===<br />
The museum preserves 2922 bird skins, 47 rolled mammal skins, and 52 flat mammal skins which are not on display. These are kept for the purpose of studying the animals.<br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[Natural history museum]]<br />
* [[List of natural history museums]]<br />
* [[List of museums in West Bengal]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist|33em}}<br />
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[[Category:Museums in West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Natural history museums in India]]<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* [https://darjeelingzoo.in/?tab=bnhm Official website]</div>Silentbram