Where should you go to get a fish, leaf, or protected species for your research? With taxidermies, fish databases, and plant species, the Biodiversity Research Museum is the place you are looking for. Since it is only open for visits on special occasions like AS Open House Day, let us take advantage of this opportunity to explore its rich treasures!

Tranquil Garden of Biology—The Biodiversity Research Museum

 

The “Quiet Zoo”: Dry Zoological Collection Room

The AS Dry Zoological Collection Room, also known as the “quiet zoo”, has over 15,000 items, including specimens of birds, insects, crustaceans, and corals. The Specimens Room is equipped with facilities for taxidermy, as well as spaces for storage and exhibition.

Tranquil Garden of Biology—The Biodiversity Research Museum

Tranquil Garden of Biology—The Biodiversity Research Museum

 

The Fish Room: Taiwan’s Largest Fish Collections

The Zoological Specimens Room in the Biodiversity Research Museum is also home to the Biggest Fish Collections in Taiwan. With around 40,000 specimens and more than 2,000 local fish species, its extensive collection of local aquatic fauna is the most comprehensive of its kind in Taiwan and adjacent areas.

Tranquil Garden of Biology—The Biodiversity Research Museum

 

The “Frozen Ark”: The Taiwan Wildlife Genetic Material Cryobank

Despite occupying a narrow piece of land, Taiwan plays a significant role in preserving world biodiversity, with over 60,000 species and 9,000+ endemic species. Therefore, in an effort to protect local genetic material, the Cryobanking Program for Wildlife Genetic Material in Taiwan, also known as the “Frozen Ark Project”, was established in 2004 by the Forestry Bureau of the Executive Yuan’s Council of Agriculture.

Tranquil Garden of Biology—The Biodiversity Research Museum

Tranquil Garden of Biology—The Biodiversity Research Museum

 

Turning Over a New Leaf at The Herbarium (HAST)
Founded in the 1960s, during the past 50 years the Herbarium (HAST) has grown from Tsang-Iang Chuang’s plant specimen collection of just 1,000 items to over 145,000 today. It is also the first specimen museum in Taiwan to adopt the APG IV system.

Tranquil Garden of Biology—The Biodiversity Research Museum

Tranquil Garden of Biology—The Biodiversity Research Museum

 

The AS Biodiversity Research Museum, including its Zoological Collections and Herbarium (HAST), has grown during the past half century to acquire its abundant collection today. Moreover, it continues to facilitate biodiversity research on various topics such as biology classification, ecology protection, evolution, agriculture, and biopharmaceutical application. With natural habitats over the world disappearing rapidly, we hope the Biodiversity Research Museum can continue to help preserve biodiversity by recording species’ survival history and preserving precious genetic materials.

 

Biodiversity Research Museum Information

  • The Biodiversity Research Museum is open to researchers only and closed to the general public.
  • Schools may arrange visits by making reservations via official applications.
  • The Biodiversity Research Museum is open to the general public on AS Open House Day.
  • For more information, please call +886-2-2789-9488.
  • Website: http://museum.biodiv.tw/eng/index.php?