Melbourne Museum Melbourne Museum's Taxidermy Hall Closing Permanently

[TeaLovingDave]

The famous exhibition within which horrors legendary among Zoochatters such as Sad Otter and the Demonic Marbled Cat can be found is closing down in just under a fortnight, to be replaced by an exhibition centred around a recently-obtained Triceratops skeleton:

Melbourne Museum's popular taxidermy room is closing permanently

Perhaps now this uneasy spirit can be exorcised......

 

[Dassie rat]

If the marbled cat had strings attached, it could be exercised

 

[Chlidonias]

The famous exhibition within which horrors legendary among Zoochatters such as Sad Otter and the Demonic Marbled Cat can be found is closing down in just under a fortnight, to be replaced by an exhibition centred around a recently-obtained Triceratops skeleton:

This is so sad! Like an otter.

It seems like such a drop going from a room full of interesting dead things to a room with ONE uninteresting dead thing.

 

[toothlessjaws]

When I first saw this exhibition I thought "how on earth do they stop these mounts from deteriorating out in the open like this?".

I now know they didn't. Probably best that it closes!

 

[Junklekitteb]

Oh no, what a loss to science... the study of the undead will be greatly hindered by this closure...

 

[DavidBrown]

I'm glad that I got a chance to see Sad Otter and Demon Cat in person before they disappear into the Raiders of the Lost Ark warehouse or wherever they go. I successfully avoided getting possessed by Demon Cat, at least I think I did.

 

[Dassie rat]

Unfortunately, you may be possessed by the Demon Giraffes

 

[DavidBrown]

There's a Sad Otter plush toy that you can buy from the museum!
Sad Otter Plush

 

[birdsandbats]

There's a Sad Otter plush toy that you can buy from the museum!
Sad Otter Plush

Yes! I need this.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Sad Otter has officially been taken off-display (earlier than the other specimens). This specimen has been part of the museum's collection since 1884 and the animal originates from Suriname. While the otter was on-display it unfortunately became infested with carpet beetle larvae.

Source: Melbourne Museum's Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=214091067050794

Log into Facebook | Facebook

 

[toothlessjaws]

Ever since visiting the American Museum of Natural History, I've been rather surprised that no Australian museum (that I know of) has not thought to create proper dioramas for a Hall of Australian mammals/wildflife. We have all the artistic/creative talent here to pull off something just as wonderful as the Americans have.

And what a great way to showcase a museums thylacine specimen also. Which I might add, in the case of most Australian museums, could do with major restoration since sadly none of the taxidermy specimens in Australia (bar perhaps SA's) are remotely lifelike. I know these things are considered very valuable, but I actually question the display value in a grotesque unnatural specimen. There are limits to what can be done, but I think there are still things that could be achieved.

And don't get me started on the wasted opportunity for Victorian dinosaurs....

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Sad Otter has been put back on display at the museum. I saw it today and there is a wide range of merchandise in the museum’s gift shop to accompany the specimen. I got the sad otter plush toy.