Museum of the Zoological Survey of India, Shillong

The Museum of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Shillong is located in the fruit gardens of Risa Colony. The ZSI was established in 1916. In 1959, it became the first regional zoological centre for the entire Northeast, excluding Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The museum is government funded and offers a range of zoological exhibits and reconstructions including those of hollock gibbons, golden langurs, peacocks and a python’s skeleton. Apart from these, it also boasts a wide array of bird and butterfly specimens indigenous to the area. These include some of the rarest species found in the north-eastern region of India. The samples are collected by the institute's scientists and researchers during field visits. The museum houses a rare collection of flora and fauna with the aim of describing the various faunal aspects of the region, and provides a visual representation of the diverse species found here. There are several educational exhibits that depict an evolutionary narrative, as exemplified by the models of apes swinging over artificial trees next to their less-evolved cousins. This forms the first and most striking visual aspect of the museum. The institute itself is concerned with the identification and study of specimens, dealing primarily with systematics and taxonomy. The museum is open to all and conducts guided tours and workshops for students and academic researchers. It also provides library services for research and study.