Linda -

>I'm at an Aquarium, where the primary connection with the visitor is, of
>course, the live animals.  Since for the safety of the visitors and the
>animals very few of our animals can be touched, zoos and aquariums have
>for many years used skins, dried specimens, bones, and the like with
>visitors and kits for loan, as mentioned.
>
>But now, as more reproductions are being used instead of these biofacts,
>are we losing something basic?

Interesting question posed.  I see how an aquarium may face a bigger
challenge to provide real stuff!  OMNH uses mnay replicas, but we use
real objects wherever possible.  For example, an object without data, or
one deemed replaceable (e.g, a rock sample, one of many).  I suppose you
might use fish skulls or scales or bones?

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Peter B. Tirrell, Associate Director
Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
The University of Oklahoma
1335 Asp Avenue
Norman, Oklahoma   73019-6071

tel:  (405) 325-1009
fax:  (405) 325-7699

also:  President, The Association of College and University Museums and
Galleries