Zoological Museum

GR EN

Identity
The Museum's objectives are:

Research: Ecology, Systematics, Biogeography, Biology Protection of various animal groups.

Education: Student training in Zoology, Biodiversity, Fauna of Greece, and Natural Anthropology – Training of Technological Educational Institute students in conserving organic material – Practical training of students - Training of Secondary Education Teachers - Environmental education for students.

Public information: Visits for primary and secondary school students, university students, and others – Press publications – Interviews and tv presentations – collaboration with environmental organizations for the promotion of their work.

Collections' management: Preservation of the Greek natural heritage – Data banks and bibliography compilations of Greek fauna and endangered and rare animal species– Enriching, conserving, documenting the Museum's content.

Library: The Museum's library includes many old and rare zoological books and magazines from all over the world. It also carries modern manuals, guidebooks, key classifications, magazines, etc.

Organizing conferences and workshops, etc.: The Museum has two lecture halls that can accommodate small meetings or seminars. Also, the Museum can host periodic art exhibitions or book exhibitions.

History
The Athens University Zoological Museum is around 160 years old. It is the first and most comprehensive of its kind in Greece. The history of the Museum begins almost at the same time as the history of Athens as the capital of the newly established Greek State. The core of the Museum preceded the foundation of the University of Athens in 1837. Specifically, in 1835, Greeks and Bavarians, mainly scholars who lived in the Greek State, established the Physiographic Society in Athens, which compiled many physiographic collections with animals, plants, minerals, and fossils. Since the foundation of the University in 1837 and because of financial difficulties, the Physiographic Society began to donate the material of these collections to the University. In 1858, the Physiographic Museum of the University of Athens was created, with the collections of the (future) Zoological Museum as its center. Until the end of the 19th century, its members and associates were dedicated to compiling, studying, and exhibiting the zoological collections, fulfilling the Museum's dual role, to educate and amuse the public, especially the young people. When modern audiovisual media were non-existent, the unique Zoological Museum functioned as a pole of attraction for many visitors and an essential factor in the overall education of the newly established Greek State and its growing capital. Greek and foreign Greek fauna researchers, amateur collectors, wild animal hunters, and many more yielded the findings, the collections. In the 20th century, the Museum continued to grow, and together with the Laboratory of Zoology, it functioned as the core of the zoological sciences education of the Athens University students. In the 1930s, under the direction of the late Professor G. Pantazis, the magazine "Acta lnstituti et Musei Universitatis Atheniensis" is published. The Museum suffered gravely during the occupation, and after the end of the war, lack of funds and space prevented any modernization, growth, or renewal. Since the early 1960s, the Museum had been closed to the public because of the needed major repairs at the building that housed it. In 1965, the exhibits and scientific collections were transferred to scattered storage spaces on campus. After the construction of the new building of the Department of Biology, the Museum of Zoology finally occupied ample spaces, and as of 1991, it progressively started to exhibit, mainly to the students, part of its rare and valuable exhibits while it continued to grow with new collections such as the collection of mammals and birds, donated by the Papalios family. Today, the Museum welcomes more than 10,000 students annually, while it continues to upgrade the Exhibition using audiovisual equipment and improve its spaces.

Types of audiences
The Museum is addressed on the one hand to the general public and the other hand to primary and secondary school students and university students. The main objective is for the public to comprehend the value and importance of biodiversity so that its preservation and protection becomes common knowledge. In addition, young visitors get to know the wonderful world of animals from up close when all access to animal diversity is available mainly electronically.

Collections & Exhibitions
All the exhibits of the Museum can be considered important since they present different aspects of biodiversity. For example, the Exhibition of Birds reveals the multitude of colors and shapes that these flying inhabitants of the planet have. The Exhibition of Mammals includes some of the largest animals on earth (whale, giraffe, lion tigers, polar bears, giant Deer). The same applies to reptiles (crocodiles, giant snakes) and fish (shark, skates). The skull exhibition of the ancestral forms of man enables the understanding of our evolution. Finally, the Exhibition of invertebrates comprises a wonderful spectrum of colors and shapes.

Events & Activities
The Museum organizes educational programs for secondary school students, participates in organizing student competitions in collaboration with other museums of the University of Athens (e.g., History), organizes workshops, conferences, lectures, etc. At the same time, on the world days related to the Museum's mission, it organizes relevant events (e.g., Day of Biodiversity, Environment, Animals, Museums, etc.).

Accessibility
Access for physically challenged people is via elevator through the central gate of the School of Sciences. An NKUA competition is already underway for the installation of lifts that will allow direct access.

Terms of Operation
Daily: Opening hours: 9:00 - 15:00 (group visits upon request) Access: Bus 250 (Evangelismos- Panepistimioplis-Campus, stop Museums) from Evangelismos Station, Bus 608 (Galatsi-Zografou Cemetery), about 500 meters from the terminal (Zografou Cemetery) within the University Campus. Access by car is from the Main Entrance of the University Campus (Olof Palme). Saturday- Sunday Holidays: The Museum is open on occasion and there are appropriate announcements.
Director:Efstratios D. Valakos, Professor, Department of Biology.

Decision of Establishment
NEWSPAPER OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GREECE. No.43/19/9/1858

Kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus). One of the Museum's rarest specimens. This parrot species is endemic to New Zealand and lives only on the ground. It is the heaviest parrot species in the world. It cannot fly, and it is a nocturnal animal. It is critically endangered and today, it is found only on four small islands.

© Zoological Museum NKUA

Felidae, the mightiest land hunters. The most impressive group of carnivorous mammals. This group includes large carnivores such as the lion, the tiger, the leopard, the cheetah, the panther, and domestic cats. They are known for their speed, intelligence, and strength. The Museum of Zoology holds a wide variety of these animals.

© Zoological Museum NKUA

Elk (Alces alces). The Elk is the largest of the Cervids. It is a robust, long-legged and short-haired deer. It is a shy animal, but known to be unpredictable and aggressive. It inhabits the northern parts of North America and Eurasia. The exhibit is perhaps the largest existing in a European Museum (Donation: Papalios family).

© Zoological Museum NKUA

The Museum has an extensive collection of arthropods which includes specimens from Greece and the rest of the world, with insects at a prominent place. The Blecha collection contains thousands of beautiful specimens of Coleoptera (beetles) from the entire planet. The Goliath beetles are among the largest insects on earth.

© Zoological Museum NKUA

Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). This bird species is seriously threatened in Greece and it is the rarest vulture found in the country. Its numbers have been declining since the 1960s, and now it reproduces only in Crete. Greece is home to the largest European population. The biggest threat to this species is bait poisoning.

© Zoological Museum NKUA

The Museum's Exhibition Hall occupies an area of approximately 2000 square meters and has two events halls.

© Zoological Museum NKUA

White shark (Carcharodon carcharias). The 4.5 meters long model of the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) allows us to identify the greatest sea predator. The aerodynamic shape of the body and the strong fins ensure speed, while the powerful jaws function as an undefeatable weapon. It is the only species of its genus (Carcharodon) that still exists.

© Zoological Museum NKUA

Endangered Species. These days, biodiversity is declining at a rate of mass extinction worldwide due to human factors. In Greece, many species have dangerously decreased; some have even disappeared. Species that have vanished from the country (lynx) or only a few viable populations exist (vulture) can be seen in the corresponding diorama for the endangered animals of Greece.

© Zoological Museum NKUA

Evolution of man. The origin of our species has always excited human curiosity. A fundamental tool for discovering our roots is the fossilized skeletal remains, especially the skulls. The collection of skull models from around 7,000,000 years ago demonstrates our course, from our apelike ancestors to our current appearance.

© Zoological Museum NKUA

Crocodiles. In the Zoological Museum, the visitor can observe up close standard specimens of this group of reptiles (Crocodiles, Alligators, Gharials).

© Zoological Museum NKUA

Ornithorhynchus or Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). This odd-looking Australian mammal belongs to a primitive group of egg-laying mammals called monotremes. It has a duck-like beak, a beaver-like tail, and otter-like legs. The males have a poisonous spur on their hind legs that causes extreme pain to humans.

© Zoological Museum NKUA

Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae). It is endemic to southeastern Australia. It has the most advanced vocal skills in the animal kingdom and the most elaborate voice in birds. It is an excellent mime, incorporating songs of other birds in its own song. The male has a long tail with various patterns and colors useful in mating.

© Zoological Museum NKUA

The wildlife in the savannah, one of the most impressive representations in the Zoological Museum, depicts a lion attacking a zebra.

© Zoological Museum NKUA

Tiger (Panthera tigris). The largest feline living on earth today, one of the most endangered species. Its population at present is estimated at 3000 individuals worldwide.

© Zoological Museum NKUA

Minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). The Skeleton of a minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata,) 8.3 meters long and 140 years old, was purchased in London in 1880. It allows us to understand why whales belong to mammals. The minke whale is the smallest of the baleen whales, and it can be occasionally observed in the Mediterranean.

© Zoological Museum NKUA