Naturalis is happy with a dead sparrow! The Naturalis collection contributes to the archive of Dutch nature. By preserving animals and plants in the collection, we can record changes in biodiversity and make them available for future research. We never kill animals; new additions to the collection are found dead and donated to Naturalis.
Not everythingis suitable for our collection
All species are equally important to us, so even a common sparrow can be a valuable addition to the Naturalis collection. Unfortunately, not all dead animals are suitable for our collection. First of all, the specimen must be fresh and intact, and the details of the find must be known, such as the exact location and date. In addition, whether the specimen is added to the collection depends on how many specimens of that species have recently been included. It is important to realize that because the scientific collection must remain available for research, the likelihood that a found animal will end up on display in the museum is very small.
Watch outfor health risks
For your and our safety, please keep in mind that dead animals can pose a health risk. Animals may have died from a disease that can also be dangerous to humans, such as avian flu or rabies. When accepting specimens, Naturalis follows the guidelines of the Dutch government. If you find a dead animal and want to transport it: always wear gloves and place the animal in a tightly sealed plastic bag.
Vogelgriep 2025
Dead birds are regularly brought to Naturalis. If the location and date of discovery are known, these can be of interest to our scientific collection. However, due to the outbreak of bird flu, it is currently not possible to bring dead birds (of any species) found since November to Naturalis.
Although bird flu does not currently pose a direct risk to humans, it is wise to be cautious. We advise everyone not to touch dead birds and not to allow pets to come into contact with them.
Not mountedbut prepared as study skins
Dead animals that arrive at Naturalis are not mounted, but prepared as study skins. This means that only the skin is preserved. The organs are removed, and the skin is filled with kapok (a type of soft stuffing) and attached to a board. A study skin can be used by researchers to examine, for example, the fur or feathers. The animal is not displayed as a life-like model, but kept as a scientific specimen. Because study skins take up much less space than mounted animals, many more specimens can be preserved in the collection.
Donated animals are regularly prepared as study skins in the LiveScience gallery, where visitors can watch free of charge.
Specialregulations
Animals that were already dead may be subject to special regulations.