Natural History Collection

Our Collections department houses preserved specimens of birds and animals, maintained under controlled conditions for study, research, and reference. Each sample is carefully catalogued and stored to safeguard biodiversity records for generations to come.

BNHS natural history collections specimens on display
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  • 18,500

    Mammals

  • 29,000

    Birds

  • 5,430

    Bird eggs

  • 8,500

    Amphibians and reptiles

  • 50,000

    Insects

  • 5,000

    Other taxa

Specimens are catalogued and progressively published to the BNHS Virtual Museum, where records can be searched by taxon, collector and locality.

The collection hall in its early years, cabinets and mounted horns as first arranged.

Visitor and research access

The Visitor Access Form is the official channel for all visitor and researcher requests. It covers visitor categories, service charges and provisions for both domestic and foreign visitors. Applications for depositing specimens with the collection use the second form below.

Dry collections are closed at present

The BNHS Natural History Collection Department's dry collections are currently closed until further notice due to ongoing renovation and the monsoon season. However, the herpetofauna collections remain open for research studies by prior appointment. For any collection-related queries, please write to us at collections@bnhs.org.

Apply for access

Choose the request you need — a visit or research consultation, or depositing specimens with the collection.

Requests are reviewed by the Curator. Service charges depend on your visitor category and are confirmed by email before your visit.

Collections you need to consult *
Identity or institutional letter *

  • The IUCN Species Survival Commission believes that biological collections are irreplaceable evidence bases that allow us to close the taxonomic gap, which in turn is the precursor to assessment and conservation action. Their scientific value is thus not merely academic but crucial for conservation.

    Vivek Menon, Chair, IUCN Species Survival Commission

  • Museums are much more than repositories of preserved animals, algae, fungi and plants; they are innovative, cutting-edge research and education infrastructures that help us discover and understand our past, while guiding our future actions for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.

    Jon Paul Rodríguez, Former Chair, IUCN Species Survival Commission

Key experts at Collections

Vinod T. Patil

Vinod T. Patil

Collections Manager

Shyam B. Jadhav

Shyam B. Jadhav

Collections Manager

Vithoba Hegde

Vithoba Hegde

Conservation Scientist