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......
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.
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!
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.
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
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....
