(We are a little behind with our posts. Now that the Open House and the Festival of Biodiversity is over, we hope to catch up soon! )
The museum hosted a delegation from the National Science Museum, Thailand on the 23rd of April. Fresh from the Asia Pacific Network of Science and Technology Centres conference (ASPAC 2012) hosted by the Singapore Science Centre, the team wanted wanted to visit RMBR to discuss matters pertaining to collaborations between our institutions.
The NSM delegation with RMBR staff, Joelle and Swee Hee
Checking out our Reference Collection was also on their agenda. We learnt something new about our collection too!
Mr. Wachara Sanguasombat with our specimen, collected from Satul Province in Thailand, 1935.
For example, we house a specimen that is rather famous in Thai ornithological circles, which we did not know until informed by Mr. Wachara Sanguansombat, Technical Officer of Birds and Mammals at the NSM, and author of the Red Data Book of the Birds of Thailand.
The Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea) specimen in the foreground, collected in 1935, represents the first record of the species in Thailand!
First described by Stamford Raffles in 1822, the milky stork is unfortunately classified as ‘vulnerable’ in the IUCN Redlist and critically endangered in Thailand due to habitat destruction, hunting and illegal wildlife trade.
We enjoyed their visit and learnt many things from our Thai counterparts. Hopefully, we will be able to visit them at NSM soon!
