点评:My nephew is fixated with Animals including Extinct ones. And when he found out that there is a Dodo bird on exhibit in Singapore’s Lee Kong Chian Natural History museum I didn’t hesitate to visit right away before my nephew joined me later on during his school break. To be honest, I was just excited to see the Dodo Bird but little did I know that this museum has more than Dodo bird - it has one of the best and biggest collection of both animal specimens across Southeast Asia and beyond time - more than half a million to be precise and a thousand of these are put in Galleries or Exhibitions. So my specific visit just to see Dodo bird has been extended for almost 2 hours looking, learning and admiring from thousands of its specimens. I felt I really went back in time…
Getting here I took the train to Clementi MRT and bus 183 to NUS’ college of design and engineering because it is inside the NUS Campus. As I entered their Lobby, I saw a specimen of Sumatran tiger on display near the concierge which is already amazing indeed. I booked my ticket on site and since I’m living in SG I got some 25% discount but for a regular adult ticket it will cost you around 27 SGD. Their closed on Mondays and open from 10 AM to 6 PM. Upon booking your tikcet you need to plan you session and they only provide 3 sessions - 10 AM/1 PM and 4 PM. I took the 4 PM slot and stayed their until closing. You could also book their tickets on their website and other platforms like Klook.
Upon entering, the place is well airconditioned and cozily lit to reflect the calmness and focus more on the specimens on display. The place is well designed, very aesthetic and modern yet showcasing the history of the specimens on display both extinct and still currently alive. They have categorized the place into permanent Galleries and Seasonal Exhibitions. As a Natural History museum, it provides historical and current information and data about the specimens of fauna and flora on display. As I entered, I was already greeted by the Rafflesia - the largest flower on Earth, there on dazzling display of Red Velvet colours growing up to 100 cm wide and 10 kg in weight. You will pass through many flora specimens on display with timelines posted on the wall. But just at this place you will be welcomed by their largest specimen right at the center - 3 real Diplodocus Sauropods skeletons aptly named Prince, Apollonia and Twinky. All 3 are facing the different sides of the museum standing high, tall and mighty - truly beautiful and admirable. What a historical specimen they were giving you a glimpse of how tall and big our ancient Dinosaurs were. These long neck, long tailed and slender dinosaurs are fully intact with Prince the tallest at 27 m and Twinky the smallest at 12 m. The museum added some lighting effect of different colours of Blue/Red/Pink/Yellow/White adding some dazzling and dramatic effect.
Next to the Diplodocus just to your left upon entering the museum is the stand alone yet symbolic specimen of the Dodo bird. Inside a Glass case standing about 60 cm tall ++ or about 2 feet. One of the most famous Extinct birds and perhaps the symbol of extinction triggered by human arrival. The Dodo only lives on the Island of Mauritius and was first discovered by the Dutch in 1600’s. The specimen has perhaps the most clear and closest image of a Dodo - with its big, sharp beak, wide eyes and combination of Brown feathers on top and White feathers below. It shows its small wings and sharp claws. The former shows the bird could not fly and the latter is suited for walking and running. In LKC museum, they have bones and skull of an actual Dodo beside the specimen. Immediately, before going to the Dinos, I have to take my shots here and called my nephew to show him the Dodo exhibit. My nephew later joined me on his trip following his school break. What a great moment it was to see an actual Dodo skull and skeletons and its lovely specimen to learn from the Dodo and also brought me back in time during the earlier days when it was living on the islands of Mauritius.
After spending almost half an hour marvelling and immersing with the specimens of the Dodo and Diplodocus, its time to wander around the museum. I’ve decided to walk to the right side of the museum which houses Avian specimens - hundreds of them in perfect condition, detailed information and well presented in their Glass cases. Beside the Avian displays were the Reptiles also hundreds of specimens and the noticeable ones were the different crocodile species right at the center including the biggest of them all - the Saltwater crocodile truly incredible!! Also on displays were Turtles including Sea turtles, Mollusks, Crustaceans and Amphibians. In between these 2 animal species they have a display of Megalodon’s Jaw and Sharp teeth. Across the aisle after the Dinosaurs, stands a mighty living creature - the Sperm Whale, an actual skeleton of a Sperm whale named Jubilee found off the coast of Jurong island in Singapore. It is the first known sighting of Sperm Whales in Singapore waters. Behind Jubilee, are the Gallery of Mammals - Primates, Marsupials and Homo Sapiens or us Humans. This is one of the perfect Home Sapiens and Primates skeleton specimens I have ever seen.
On the 2nd floor, the layout is more like a Library type with specimens enclosed in Wooden compartments with Glass facade. But first, just above the Diplodocuses are the 2 Pterodactyls haging up high in the ceilings - what an aesthetic and creative ways to install them. The Singapore Tiger is presented right at the center with its preserved Furs upon entering this floor.
A collection of Fishes like the Swordfish with its long, sharp pointed bill like a sword are also found on this floor. I saw an Orangutan and several Monkeys here. Small rodents and mammals join the Tiger and the Deer. During our visit, there was an exhibition related to Extinct animal species and Conservation of Animals. It was really a learning and immersive experience for us. My nephew and sister also loved their experience here because they both enjoyed and learned from the exhibits and galleries of specimens presented by LKC.
That really capped off our educational experience at Lee Kong Chian museum. It really made us aware and inform of these species both plants and animals about how the look like, when and where they lived, and what makes them distinct and unique. Through this humbling and amazing experience, we are now knowledgeable of the fact that we need other species here on Earth to maintain the balance and circle of life and each made their own mark throughout the history of our Big Blue World. Continue to inspire and inform us Lee Kong Chian Natural history museum, we are looking forward to visit your exhibits and galleries again of wonderful and great species of plants and animals from then till now!!!!
翻译:我的侄子对动物非常着迷,包括已经灭绝的动物。当他得知新加坡李光前自然历史博物馆展出渡渡鸟时,我毫不犹豫地立刻就去了,后来侄子趁着学校放假也跟着去了。说实话,我当时只是兴奋地想看看渡渡鸟,却没想到这家博物馆的藏品远不止渡渡鸟——它拥有东南亚乃至世界范围内最丰富、最全面的动物标本收藏——确切地说,超过50万件,其中1000件被陈列在画廊或展览中。因此,我原本只为看渡渡鸟而来的行程,却被延长了将近两个小时,在成千上万件标本中观察、学习和欣赏。我感觉自己仿佛回到了过去……
到达这里后,我先乘地铁到金文泰地铁站,然后换乘183路公交车到新加坡国立大学设计与工程学院,因为它就在新加坡国立大学校园内。一走进大堂,就看到礼宾部附近展出了一只苏门答腊虎,真是太震撼了。我现场订票,因为我住在新加坡,所以享受了七五折的优惠,但普通成人票大约要27新元。博物馆每周一闭馆,开放时间为上午10点至下午6点。订票时需要提前规划参观时间,博物馆只提供3个时段:上午10点、下午1点和下午4点。我选择了下午4点的时段,一直待到闭馆。你也可以在他们的网站和Klook等其他平台上订票。
进门后,馆内空调充足,灯光柔和,营造出一种宁静祥和的氛围,让参观者更加专注于展出的标本。博物馆设计精美,美观现代,同时展现了馆内灭绝和现存标本的历史。博物馆分为常设展厅和季节性展览。作为一座自然历史博物馆,它提供有关展出的动植物标本的历史和当前信息和数据。当我走进去时,我已经被大王花所吸引 - 这是地球上最大的花,它有着令人眼花缭乱的红色天鹅绒般的色彩,可以长到 100 厘米宽,10 公斤重。您将穿过许多展出的植物标本,墙上贴着时间表。但就在这个地方,您会看到位于中心的最大标本 - 3 个真正的梁龙蜥脚类恐龙骨架,分别名为 Prince、Apollonia 和 Twinky。这 3 个骨架面向博物馆的不同侧面,高大威猛 - 美丽而令人钦佩。它们是多么具有历史意义的标本啊,它们让您一睹我们古代恐龙的身高和体型。这些长颈、长尾、纤细的恐龙完好无损,其中最高的 Prince 有 27 米,最小的 Twinky 有 12 米。博物馆添加了蓝/红/粉/黄/白等不同颜色的灯光效果,增添了炫目和戏剧效果。
进入博物馆后,在梁龙旁边左侧,是一只独立但具有象征意义的渡渡鸟标本。它被放置在一个玻璃柜中,高约60厘米左右。渡渡鸟是最著名的灭绝鸟类之一,或许也是人类入侵引发物种灭绝的象征。渡渡鸟仅生活在毛里求斯岛,于17世纪由荷兰人首次发现。这只标本或许是渡渡鸟最清晰、最接近的形象——它有着大而尖的喙、大大的眼睛,上面是棕色的羽毛,下面是白色的羽毛。它露出了小巧的翅膀和锋利的爪子。前者表明这种鸟无法飞行,而后者则适合行走和奔跑。在LKC博物馆,标本旁边还有一只真正的渡渡鸟的骨骼和头骨。在去恐龙馆之前,我得先在这里拍几张照片,然后打电话给我的侄子,让他带我去看渡渡鸟展。后来,我侄子放学后也加入了我的旅行。看到真正的渡渡鸟头骨和骨骼,以及这个可爱的标本,真是太棒了,既能向渡渡鸟学习,又能让我回到过去,那时渡渡鸟还生活在毛里求斯群岛。
在花了将近半个小时惊叹于渡渡鸟和梁龙的标本之后,是时候在博物馆里闲逛了。我决定走到博物馆的右侧,那里收藏着数百只鸟类标本——它们完好无损,信息详尽,整齐地摆放在玻璃柜里。鸟类展品旁边是爬行动物展品,同样有数百个标本,最引人注目的是位于中心的不同种类的鳄鱼,其中包括最大的咸水鳄,真是令人难以置信!展览中还展出了海龟(包括海龟)、软体动物、甲壳类动物和两栖动物。在这两种动物之间,还展出了巨齿鲨的下颌和锋利的牙齿。恐龙展区对面,矗立着一种强大的生物——抹香鲸。在新加坡裕廊岛附近海域发现了一具名为Jubilee的抹香鲸的真实骨架。这是首次在新加坡海域发现抹香鲸。Jubilee的后面是哺乳动物展厅,展出灵长类动物、有袋动物和智人(或称我们人类)。这是我见过的最完美的智人和灵长类动物骨架标本之一。
二楼的布局更像是一个图书馆,标本被封闭在玻璃幕墙的木质隔间中。首先,在梁龙的正上方,是两只高耸在天花板上的翼手龙——它们的摆放方式真是既美观又富有创意。进入这一层,新加坡虎就被陈列在正中央,身上裹着保存完好的毛皮。
这一层还展出了一些鱼类,比如剑鱼,它有着长而尖的喙,如同剑一般。我在这里看到了一只猩猩和几只猴子。除了老虎和鹿之外,还有一些小型啮齿动物和哺乳动物。我们参观期间,正好碰上一个关于灭绝动物物种和动物保护的展览。这对我们来说真是一次沉浸式的学习体验。我的侄子和妹妹也非常喜欢这里,因为他们都很喜欢李光前自然历史博物馆的展品和标本展厅,并从中获益良多。
这为我们在李光前自然历史博物馆的学习之旅画上了圆满的句号。它让我们真正地了解并认识了这些动植物物种,包括它们的外貌、它们生活的年代和地点,以及它们的独特之处。通过这次令人谦卑又奇妙的经历,我们深刻地认识到,地球上需要其他物种来维持生命的平衡和循环,每个物种都在我们这个蓝色大世界的历史中留下了自己的印记。李光前自然历史博物馆将继续激励我们,引领我们前进!我们期待着再次参观你们的展览和展厅,欣赏从古至今的众多奇妙动植物!