Galway 3: Zoology and Marine Biology Museum: University of Galway - Shannah

             The University of Galway was kind enough to give us a tour of their fossil collection and live animal exhibition in their Zoology and Marine Biology Museum. We saw so many unique animals, including an extinct ivory billed woodpecker. One of the highlights of the tour was looking at the handmade, glass blown replicas of various marine and terrestrial animals.

Big scorpions have less venom!!

We also saw some of Darwin’s original specimens, which included various mammals and birds. During the live exhibit, the animal expert allowed us to handle some of the animals. These animals included, a millipede, tarantula, gecko, a snake, and a tortoise. Personally, I enjoyed handling the tarantula! Each animal had its own, unique biology and beauty. The live animals had much longer life spans than expected. The female tarantula can live up to 25 years! The snake was a type of python constrictor (non-venomous) and had beautiful patterning.

Paul adding ivory-billed woodpecker to his life list

Learning about the fossil's and some of the native current species of Ireland was a fun experience! Some of the native species included the European species of red squirrel, pine marten, and various rodents. Another interesting fact we learned was that during the 19th century, they made taxidermy specimens look scarier so that when they were put on display, they would match explorers’ dramatic descriptions of the animals. Also, did you know that python snakes have two legs?!

Overall, the experience was both fun and informative. The safety and care of the animals was heavily emphasized which I appreciated, as I’m usually apprehensive about the idea of animals being held in captivity. But the university clearly intends to preserve these animals and take good care of them.

Seeing them up close was a once and a lifetime experience I won’t soon forget! My fellow classmates also seemed to enjoy the experience. We were all excited to see live animals that aren’t typically seen in Vermont. For me, this experience reinforced the importance of conserving and appreciating all wildlife, as life is precious and delicately balanced. - Shannah Weller

Ducks and feathered friends