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Museum Tiger's 160-Year-Old Makeover!
20 Jun
Summary
- A 12ft Bengal tiger, over 160 years old, was cleaned at Leeds City Museum.
- The conservation project also included rare Huia bird feathers and Grandma the panda.
- Preservation ensures access to natural history for future generations.
A 12ft Bengal tiger, a resident of Leeds City Museum for over 160 years, recently underwent a detailed conservation treatment. Curators meticulously cleaned the 1860s specimen, checking for dust and pests that could damage the vintage taxidermy. The preservation initiative extended to other fragile exhibits within the museum's Life on Earth gallery.
Among the items receiving attention were the delicate tail feathers of a rare Huia, an extinct bird species from New Zealand, and "Grandma" the panda. "Grandma" was part of the first giant pandas brought to the UK in 1938. These efforts are crucial for maintaining collections that offer future generations access to the natural world.
The museum's natural sciences curator highlighted the importance of monitoring these mounts due to environmental factors and potential damage from insects like clothes moths and carpet beetles. Preserving these specimens, some over 200 years old, is vital, especially for species that are now endangered, ensuring their legacy is not lost.
