Recently our family went to the IWM, International Wildlife Museum. Feel free to check out our family blog for details. While Heather wrote a wonderful article with photos on the experience, I shall concentrate more on the content of the museum.
The museum had several large rooms of preserved animals, ranging from insects to birds to megafauna. Included were a few skeletons of prehistoric animals, exhibits on the Sonoran Desert, and displays on poaching and conservation. While I did not get to examine the poaching exhibit, I did notice a few placards interspersed with the exotic animals advocating conservation and relaying success stories where numbers of animals have increased through stewardship programs.
One room in particular (The Head and Horns Room) reminded me uncomfortably of Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game. I learnt the museum is an educational program of the Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF). SCIF is 'dedicated to increasing knowledge and appreciation of the world's diverse wildlife, as well as explaining the role of wildlife management in conservation. (Flyer at museum)' The message of the museum is very different from the standard message one hears from the media where man is the bogeyman responsible for all sorts of animal atrocities. It was interesting to see this different point of view. Although I was not able to read all of the placards (it's hard to when chasing your son who wants to walk everywhere) the museum seemed to present a rather positive view of humans in conserving endangered species. The museum also highlighted the funds hunters pay being used for the conservation of the prey, increasing their numbers. It was interesting to see this point of view and realize what good man has done in his environment.
On a related note the DVDs for Planet Earth have three documentaries of which I've watched the first. I thought the first was very well balanced, asking questions of: how do we improve impoverished peoples so they don't destroy wildlands, and is environmentalism a Western luxury? I was surprised the message wasn't heavy-handed like so much environmentalism. I look forward to watching the other two documentaries. In conclusion, I enjoyed going to the museum and look forward to going again when I have more time to read the exhibit descriptions.
