Contact

telephone no.: 81 537 59 63
muzeum.zoologiczne@umcs.pl

General information

The Museum of Zoology has a 130-m² exhibition hall. Its 65 display cases arranged along the walls present the fauna of invertebrates and lower vertebrates. Another 28 freestanding glass cases show specimens of birds and mammals. Exhibits of large native species of even-toed ungulates and predators as well as a collection of reptiles are presented in separate parts of the hall. Osteological exhibits are shown in the corridor in front of the entrance to the Museum. Showcases hanging on the walls present entire vertebrate skeletons and their fragments. The richest collection comprises mammalian skulls: there are 115 specimens from 102 species. In total, both permanent exhibitions display over 2 000 natural specimens.

The second hall in the Museum serves an exhibition and didactic function. It houses showcases dedicated to applied entomology. Microscopes present views of common storage pests. Standing display cases present a comparative collection of several dozen species of fish, amphibians, and reptiles. It is also possible to see documents and small items associated with the establishment of the Museum.

The museum has scientific collections comprising approximately 100 000 specimens of animals. One of the best-known and highly valued exhibits is the collection of butterflies gathered by doc. dr. inż. Mieczysław Krzywicki. It includes the Nearctic and Palearctic butterfly fauna with the most valuable specimens collected in Poland as well as representatives of Neotropical Papilionidae. The richest scientific collection is composed of bone remains (over 80 000) recovered from owl pellets. The museum collections also comprise over 6 000 wet-stored small mammals originating mainly from Lubelszczyzna and approximately 1 000 fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Specimens of mammals and birds are also stored as dry collections in the form of life-size mounts, skins, and skulls.

Most of the exhibits were prepared by museum employees showing outstanding skills: dr Janusz Dynowski (vertebrates), preparator Mr. Jerzy Gundłów, and mgr Franciszek Ostrowski (mainly invertebrates).

History

The Museum of Zoology of Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin was established in January 1946. Dr. Zdzisław Raabe was appointed its head and first curator. In 1946-48, the Museum became a separate unit of UMCS. In 1949, it was merged with the Chair of Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates headed by Professor August Dehnel and functioned as one of its subunits: the Department of the Museum of Zoology. The permanent zoological exhibition was made available to visitors in the same year at the premises located at 6 Królewska Street in Lublin. In 1963, the exhibits were transferred to a new building of Collegium Biologicum at 19 Akademicka Street in Lublin. A new museum exhibition was organised, which was expanded and modernised over the next years. In 1970, after changes in the administrative structure of the University and transformation of Chairs, the use of the name “Museum of Zoology” was eventually discontinued. From that time until August 2008, the museum was part of the Department of Comparative Anatomy and Anthropology at the UMCS Institute of Biology. On September 1, 2008, the Museum of Zoology was established at the Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences by virtue of UMCS Rector's resolution. In October 1, 2018, the Museum was merged with the Laboratory of Biology Didactics and Environmental Education under the name of the Laboratory of Biological and Environmental Education with the Museum of Zoology

Activities

Zoologist dr Jacek Chobotow is in charge of the work of the Museum.

• Exhibitions. The Museum exhibitions are available free of charge. The Museum is visited by several thousand visitors per year.
• Education. The collections are arranged in the systematic order. They clearly illustrate the variety of morphological traits of animals. They are used in classes for students of Lublin universities and groups of students from primary and secondary schools. Senior classes have also been conducted for several years. Every year, the Museum participates in campaigns promoting the Faculty, University, and science: Children's University, Lublin Festival of Science, Open Doors, Night of Biologists, Lublin Senior Days, and Earth Day
• Scientific collections. The scientific collections are used by employees of Lublin universities and scientists from other research centres in Poland. The Museum cooperates with the Silesian Museum in Katowice, Roztocze National Park Museum in Zwierzyniec, Nadwiślańskie Museum in Kazimierz Dolny, Educational-Museum Centre of the Poleski National Park in Stary Załucz, Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków

As part of the conservation/expansion of the scientific collection, the Museum participates in the IMBIO Project - Integration and mobilisation of data on the biotic diversity of Eukaryota in the resources of Polish scientific institutions. Operational Program Digital Poland, sub-measure 2.3.1 “Digital access to public sector information from administrative sources and science resources” (Type II project: Digital access to science resources).