University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge

@zoologymuseum

The University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge is one of the UK's largest & most important natural history collections. Thousands of specimens on display including one of the world's most complete dodo skeletons. www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk

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University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· 29d

🐠Last few spaces left on our FREE Pride in Nature tour at 1pm this Sun 19 July. Book now to join our expert volunteer guide & hear how queer perspectives help us to better understand the natural world 🦒🐧🦩https://ow.ly/MXRb50ZnNMC University of Cambridge Museums #LGBTQ+

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jul 15

📢Major new partnership between Oxford & Cambridge museums will release over a million digitised specimen records of British plants & insects. https://ow.ly/rXlt50ZnG37 Department of Plant Sciences Cambridge, UK Research and Innovation, Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford #DiSSCoUK

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jul 8

🦈Explore the Hidden World of Wildlife Trade in this new trail & exhibition created by TRAFFIC. Follow 12 animals & the people working together to protect them, from giant tortoises to tarantulas. FREE. University of Cambridge Museums https://ow.ly/pfHr50ZlxJu🦈

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jul 2

🦋TONIGHT 🦋 Thurs 2 July at 7pm - join us LIVE online as we talk about the little things that rule the world - INSECTS! Dr Roz Wade will be with ladybird expert Prof Helen Roy & butterfly expert Matt Hayes. Get your questions ready! 🙂University of Cambridge Museums https://ow.ly/IyMY50ZjycA

Beautiful butterfly perched on colorful zinnia flowers in a lush garden, West Java, Indonesia

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jul 1

🦋Sat 4 July - we're delighted to join with Trinity College Fellows' Garden to offer insect walks, pond dipping & minibeast hunts. Lots of hands-on activities at the Museum too 🐝 FREE. https://ow.ly/Rnzi50ZiJnq University of Cambridge Museums

A vibrant peacock butterfly resting on purple aster flowers in a sunlit garden.

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 29

It's this week! 🐞Thurs 2 July at 7pm we will be chatting LIVE to expert Prof Helen Roy all about ladybirds🐞 - what are they, how many species are there & why do we need them? Ask your questions LIVE! Register now via our blog. University of Cambridge Museums🙂https://ow.ly/gYsK50Zi8gc

Macro shot of a red ladybug with black spots on a leafy plant outdoors.

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 25

📢UPDATE: The Museum & shop will be CLOSED until 10am on Tuesday 30 June 2026. 📢This is due to the extreme weather conditions affecting our cooling systems. We're really sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. University of Cambridge Museums

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 25

🐝SAT 4 JULY: Explore Cambridge Trinity College Fellows’ Garden with expert guides on snails, hoverflies, pollinators & mini-beasts.🦋 Book ahead. PLUS lots on at the Museum, from activities on dung beetles 😉 to drop in talks. All welcome. https://ow.ly/iZZu50ZghtB University of Cambridge Museums

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 24

📢The Museum will be CLOSED on Thursday 25 June due to some essential maintenance work. We're really sorry for the short notice. The shop will also be closed. University of Cambridge Museums

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 22

🐞Why are ladybirds different colours? How long do they live? How many species are there?🐞Put your ladybird questions LIVE to expert Prof. Helen Roy. Join us: 7pm, Thurs 2 July as we chat all about these beautiful beetles. All welcome! https://ow.ly/LymX50Zf7JK University of Cambridge Museums

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 19

Pride Month Mini-Series: Today's focus is the behaviour of oystercatchers. Want to learn more? Book onto our next FREE Pride in Nature tour on 21st June via our website. @CamUnivMuseums #PrideMonth #LGBTQ+ #LGBTFacts #PRIDE #PRIDE2026 #MusuemOfZoology #PrideInNature.

Two oystercatchers perched on rocky terrain, one flying with a rainbow background and text about their breeding behaviour.

Text reads: Oystercatchers are typically monogamous with both the mother and father heavily involved in raising chicks. But in a 1998 field study Dik Heg and Rob van Treuren reported a surprisingly high frequency of stable ‘trios’ forming. Two females and a male share a territory and nest. Together they act cooperatively to attend to their young and defend the territory

Oystercatcher standing on one leg against a rainbow background with 'Girl Boss' lettering next to it and text about female copulation behaviour surrounding.

The text reads: Within the trio the two females regularly copulate with each other as well as the male. The female-female copulations are behaviourally indistinguishable from the male-female copulations, with the females adopting either the male or female ‘role’.

A rainbow background with a purple rhinoceros, a flying albatross , a black and white oystercatcher, a giraffe, and a brown bear surround text which reads Join our upcoming Pride in Nature tour on June 21st - link in bio

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 18

Pride Month Mini-Series: Today we are talking about the Laysan albatross!❤️🧡🤍 🩷 Want to learn more? Book onto our next FREE Pride in Nature tour on 21st June. Tickets can be booked via our website: https://www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk/events/pride-nature-lgbtq-tour-18

Two Laysan albatrosses nestled closely together on the ground surrounded by foliage, illustrating female-female pair bonding on Oahu Island.

The text reads: A 2008 study reported 31% of Laysan albatross pairs on Oahu Island were female-female. This is attributed to the skewed sex ratio of the population, with fewer males. While some of these pairings are temporary until a male becomes available for reproduction, others remain lifelong.

Cartoon of two albatrosses performing a courtship dance and singing.

The text reads: One ‘lesbian’ couple has been together for 17 years! The same age as the Oahu colony. In this time they’ve raised 8 orphan chicks and become grandparents.
Birds in F/F pairs engage in the same elaborate courtship rituals and preening present in male-female pairs.

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 17

📢On Tues 23 & Wed 24 June the Museum will be CLOSED for essential maintenance 📢 We're really sorry if you were hoping to visit on those days. The shop & café will be open, plus you can still see our 21 metre fin whale, which hangs above the shop 🐳University of Cambridge Museums

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 13

Pride Month Mini-Series: Today, we are highlighting the meaning and importance of the Lavender Rhino.🦏💜 Want to learn more? Book onto our next FREE Pride in Nature tour on 14th and 21st June. Tickets can be booked via our website: https://www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk/events/pride-nature-lgbtq-tour-17

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 12

Pride Month Mini-Series: Happy Pride Month: let's talk about bears in LGBTQ+ Culture! Want to learn more? Book onto our next FREE Pride in Nature tour on 14th and 21st June. Tickets can be booked via our website: https://www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk/events/pride-nature-lgbtq-tour-17

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 11

Pride Month Mini-Series: Happy Pride from the Museum of Zoology! To celebrate, here are some fun facts about both LGBTQ+. Want to learn more? Book onto our next FREE Pride in Nature tour on 14th and 21st June. https://www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk/events/pride-nature-lgbtq-tour-17

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 9

🐳Why is there a fin whale skeleton in Cambridge? 🐳Curious about what Darwin collected whilst he was studying? Join us for a FREE expert guided tour! Tours are monthly, next tour: Friday 12 June at 3pm https://ow.ly/pi8C50Z9pyl University of Cambridge Museums

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Jun 3

This #PrideMonth take a look around the Museum with our Pride In Nature trail. It's about how queer perspectives help us to understand the natural world & how 'science' has actively hidden same-sex behaviour in animals. Trail & Museum entry FREE #PrideUK #Pride2026 University of Cambridge Museums

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· May 28

📢SAVE THE DATES! 📢 🐝Our biggest family event of the year ZoologyLive! is on Sat 4 July, all activities FREE, everyone welcome 🐞PLUS don't miss ZoologyLive! - The Livestream, online Thurs 2 July. We'll be talking about ladybirds - get your questions ready! University of Cambridge Museums

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· May 27

#Pride in Nature 🏳️‍🌈 tours coming on Sunday 14 & 21 June at 1pm. Book your FREE place & discover the stories that are sometimes left untold... Tours led by expert volunteers. Everyone welcome. Book ahead https://ow.ly/sAOu50Z4C8K University of Cambridge Museums #PrideUK #LGBTQ+

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· May 21

😎It's a bank holiday weekend coming - here are our opening hours: 🌞Sat 23 May: 10am - 4.30pm 🌞Sun 24 May: 12 noon - 4.30pm 🌞Mon 25 May: 12 noon - 4.30pm It's due to be HOT outside, but it's always cool in the Museum 😉Do pop in! University of Cambridge Museums

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· May 20

🐝It's World Bee Day! Not all bumblebees are the same - did you know there are 24 different species in the UK? Eight of those are listed as conservation priority species - find out more about bees & pollinators on our blog 🐝https://ow.ly/VP3F50Z24xJ #WorldBeeDay2026 University of Cambridge Museums

Bumblebee collecting nectar from a vibrant yellow flower during daylight in a lush garden setting.

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· May 13

TONIGHT, Wed 13 May 5.30pm - join us in Cambridge as Elizabeth Yale & James Costa talk about their new book 'The Descent Of Man - an annotated edition' Talk is in the main zoology lecture theatre, with Museum galleries & shop open afterwards. FREE 🙂https://ow.ly/poPw50YYV90

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· May 8

Come to the Museum Whale Hall to see this fabulous artwork by our Young Zoologists, created in partnership with the Cambridge Conservation Initiative and inspired by #SirDavidAttenborough. Museum entry FREE

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· May 8

🎂Happy 100th Birthday to Sir David Attenborough 🎂 We are proud that #SirDavidAttenborough opened our Museum in 2018. Here he explains why zoology museums are “the bedrock on which zoological science depends.” 💗 University of Cambridge Museums https://ow.ly/rpqP50YREJg Photo credit: CamDiary

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· May 6

Join James Costa & Elizabeth Yale as they talk about their new book 'The Annotated Edition of The Descent of Man', PLUS Museum galleries & shop will be open afterwards, with copies of the book available. FREE, book ahead, Wed 13 May at 5.30pm 🙂https://ow.ly/FMXN50YVoZy

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Apr 28

📢The Museum is open this Bank Holiday weekend! 🦋Saturday 2 May: 10am to 4.30pm 🦋Sunday 3 May: 12 noon to 4.30pm 🦋Bank Holiday Monday 4 May: 12 noon to 4.30pm Look forward to welcoming you soon 🐳🦋🐝Entry FREE

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Apr 22

Today is Earth Day! Earth Day is an annual international event that aims to promote environmental protection. This video explores some of the UK wildlife specimens on display in the Museum that are affected by environmental change caused by human impact. #EarthDay #EarthDay2026

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Apr 15

📢We need you!📢Volunteers are essential at the Museum from providing a warm welcome to visitors, to getting hands on with our specimens. No zoology knowledge is needed, just enthusiasm! Different times & days available. Get in touch 🙂University of Cambridge Museums https://ow.ly/EB4i50YJPIZ

University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge@zoologymuseum· Apr 8

🐝What’s killing our bees?🐝Discover the vital work of Museum Director, Professor Mark Brown & why bees really matter. Did you know one-third of the food we eat relies on bee-pollinated crops? @camunivmuseums.bsky.social @camzoology.bsky.social @markjfbrown.bsky.social www.cam.ac.uk/stories/what...