Tehran’s Nature and Wildlife Museum
Living in Tehran’s contributing editor Samson Seez gives us a glimpse of Darabad’s Nature and Wildlife Museum, a very old museum collection in the far north of the city.
The Iranian capital Tehran is full of well-known museums and historical sites, but one venue is off the beaten track and is not one you would want to miss!
The Nature and Wildlife Museum of Darabad was established by Tehran’s municipality in 1993. The aim was to increase awareness of Iran’s natural and cultural heritage and to stress the importance of conservation in the country and around the planet.
Stuffed Animals
The Taxidermy galleries offer a variety of animals from around the world including South East Asia’s Bengali Tiger and Boa Constrictors. Another section shows creatures from Europe and North America like the Moose, Siberian Tiger, and Brown Bear. Delightfully for your information, these animals were NOT killed; they were found to be already dead, brought here, and restored for the public to be educated.
Some of the most significant Taxidermies at the Darabad Museum are unique species native to Iran. The critically endangered Asiatic Cheetah, which has become a national icon, is on display, along with the extremely rare Persian Zebra. The elegant Pleske’s Ground Jay (Zaagh-e-boor) only inhabits the eastern deserts of Iran.
Insects Inn
Butterfly lovers will enjoy what this section of insects has to offer. Examples of colorful species from different regions of the world are placed on a map of the continent which they come from.
The bee preservation area is just outside the butterfly building. The buzzing creatures do happen to be the most critical pollinators on the planet and Iran is involved in their preservation.
Plant Art
Why not enter this beautiful building on the Darabad Museum complex, which displays dried plants that have been collected from around the world? The exhibition has been designed like a labyrinth showcasing plant species that have been neatly sealed in a dry condition. The museum’s herbology collection includes 600 plant species from Iran’s four phytogeographical regions.
Live Animals
The aquarium inside the museum provides an excellent spectacle of different fish and reptiles that live in the Middle East. Each container or fish tank has been arranged to suit the atmosphere of the creature lurking about inside. Snake lovers can get up close and personal with a few of the most-deadly vipers on the planet. (Luckily a thick piece of glass separates you from them).
Bird lovers can even get a sneaky peak at the enclosures that are placed outside of the gardens, ranging from peacocks, pigeons, and other species.
Geology Section
This section teaches us about significant stones and rocks that exist on Earth. You can also learn about dinosaur fossils and increase your knowledge about the history of the giant extinct mammoths. You can also learn about the history of the universe from the Big Bang onwards, the formation of galaxies, our solar system, and the Earth’s three geologic eras.
Extras!
The grounds of the Darabad Museum complex are lovely indeed, so you might want to take a few pictures, while you go for a stroll. You can also head to the coffee shop on the corner for some refreshments and enjoy a fabulous high view of the city, as well as the mountains.