Historical dioramas

“Animals of Africa. Dioramas 1935-1984”

The collection of large African animals is inextricably linked with the history of the Natural History Museum. The Burgergemeinde Bern erected the building on Bernastrasse, where the museum is still housed today, to exhibit the more than one hundred animals that the big game hunter Bernard von Wattenwyl shot on two hunting safaris in East Africa in 1923-24. The majority of the animals came from the British-occupied areas of East Africa, Kenya/Uganda. The hunters profited in part from the colonial structures, i.e. from the exploitation of the knowledge and labor of the indigenous population.

“Animals of Switzerland. Dioramas 1941”

What rustles in the screed? What scurries through the undergrowth? We are familiar with the local animal world - and yet we rarely get to see many species. The listed exhibition “Animals of Switzerland” brings us closer to the local diversity. And addresses what the progressive loss of habitat means for the individual species.

“Animals of the North. Dioramas 1942-1968”

The exhibition section provides insights into the lives of animals from the northern hemisphere. In addition to the typical inhabitants of the North Pole, there are also three of the largest bear species in the world - the polar bear, the grizzly and the Kodiak.  A light show allows visitors to experience a whole day in the far north in just a few minutes.

“Animals of Asia. Dioramas 1978-1990”

The display cases show dermoplastics of large mammals. The adult orangutans come from a colonial context: the museum bought them from animal traders at the end of the 19th century. All the others are zoo animals or plastic replicas, supplemented with fur and hair from various animal species - and even human hair.