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Iran is a vast nation of great natural beauty. Over half of Iran is
mountainous, with ranges oriented more or less parallel to its
international borders. Iran forms a bridge between four major
phytogeographical regions: the Irano-Turanian, the Eurosiberian, the
Saharo-Arabian, and the Sudanian. Variations in altitude and climate are
also great. On the basis of these features Iran possesses diverse
habitats and an abundance of animal and plant species. So far a total of
155 species of mammals (excluding marine mammals), 502 species of birds,
174 species of fish, 20 species of amphibians and over 195 species of
reptiles have been recorded in Iran. This variety is also remarkable
amongst invertebrates, however most of Iran's fauna is still unknown to
many of us.
The Nature and Wildlife
Museum of Iran was established by the Municipality of Tehran in 1993 to
acquaint and increase awareness of our natural and cultural heritage,
and to highlight the importance of conservation. It has attained the
membership of pertinent international organizations such as the
International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the Commission on Education
and Communication-International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
EXHIBITIONS
The major exhibitions are
housed in two floors in the main building. The major Halls of the first
floor are devoted to mammals and birds of Iran and the world. Second
floor is devoted to Geology.
- 1st Floor
It is recommended that
visitors begin their discovery from the left side of the main building's
entrance. This will ensure a comprehensive visit of the first floor and
lead you back to the entrance again. At this point, using the front
stairs, you can explore the second floor.
ZooLOGY
• Hall 1
South East Asia
Boas, the longest snakes
of the world, a Bengal Tiger, Peacocks and Peahens o'f India and Sri
Lanka are the main attractions of this Hall.
Europe & North America
Mammals displayed in this
section include Moose, Chamois, Siberian Tiger, European Fallow Deer and
a Brown Bear representative of North America.
• Hall 2 & 3
Birds and Mammals of Iran
These two Halls
offer a remarkable diversity of endemic Iranian species. Regions
represented include West, Northwest, North, Northeast, East, Centre and
South of Iran.
• Hall 2
On the left side of the
Hall, the fauna of the Northwest of Iran has been displayed. Here one
can see mounted specimens of Armenian sheep, Goitered Gazelle, Alborz
Red Sheep, Roe Deer, Eagle Owl, Pheasants and Flamingos. Species
representative of the Northern provinces include: Brown Bear, Red Deer,
Wild Boar, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Eurasian Lynx, Golden Jackal, Common Fox
and a Wolf. One of the most remarkable species displayed from the
Caspian Sea is a Beluga with a body length of four meters. From the
Northeast of Iran, Urial Sheep and from the East and West, Persian Ibex
are displayed. One of the most recent additions is a Persian Fallow
Deer.
• Hall 3
In this Hall fauna
representative of the Central and Southern provinces of Iran are
displayed. Persian Wild Ass and Asian Cheetah both classed as critically
endangered, are amongst these specimens. Other attractions include
Caracal, Golden Jackal, Common Fox, Striped Hyena, and reptiles such as
Aesculapian snake, Iranian Horned Viper, Levantine Viper and Glass
Lizard. Birds, both native and migrant can also be seen in Halls 2 and
3.
• Hall 4
Mammals of the African Continent
There is a fairly large
collection of African mammals on display in this Hall including various
Antelopes, African Lion and a Lioness, Rhinoceroses, Warthogs, Wild Dog
and an African Leopard.
LIVE SPECIMENS ON DISPLAY
• Halls 5 & 6
Reptiles and Fish
Halls 5 and 6 offer an
interesting selection of species from the two orders of reptiles and
fish. In Hall 5 different aquariums display various species of
freshwater fishes from Asia, Africa and South America, and marine fishes
from the Persian Gulf. Hall 6 offers a selection of venomous,
semi-venomous and non-venomous snakes including endemic species of Iran.
Birds
In the center of the
adjoining round halls of the first floor, a beautifully designed
green-house provides a suitable habitat for live bird species from the
different regions of the world. Amongst them, Mute Swans, Pheasants,
Purple Swamphens, Sparrows, Ducks and love birds can be seen.
- 2nd Floor
GEOLOGY
• Hall 7
Geology and Paleontology
In the entrance corridor
to this hall, are displays of minerals and gems, representative of Iran.
Specimens such as Sulphur, Quartz, Celestine and Calcite have been
chosen to illustrate the nature of minerals. Some of the finest gems
displayed include Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli, Fluorite, Opal, Garnet,
Turquoise and Agate. The main part of the Hall offers remarkable
dioramas, beginning with an illustration of the creation of the
Universe, the Solar System and the different eras of life starting with
the Precambrian. The Museum has one of the finest collections of fossils
in Iran, including fossilized skeletons such as Equus from the
Quaternary period and fossilized plants such as Sigilliaria from the
Permian period. Some exhibits such as Stromatolites date back to more
than one billion years ago.
• Hall 8
Butterflies
Butterflies form the main
part of the insect's collection on display. A variety of beautiful
butterflies representative of Iran and the world are displayed in family
groups including Plain Tiger, Large White and Red Admiral. Various
species of Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Scorpions and Spiders are also
eyecatching.
TAXIDERMY WORKSHOP
Here visitors
become familiar with the different stages of taxidermy. Different
sections of the workshop are devoted to the taxidermy of birds, mammals,
reptiles and marine animals.
SPECIAL OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS
An
interesting range of live birds and mammals can be seen including an
African lion, an African Leopard, an Iranian Leopard, Peacocks,
Pheasants and Parrots.
MUSEUM PUBLIC SERVICES
- Buffet
- Theatre
- Veterinary Medicine
- Prayer Room
- Bookshop
- Pet shop
- Open-air Cinema
- Library
Source: official printed materials of NWMI (cca 2000)
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