The Indian Museum, Kolkata founded in 1914

 

The Indian Museum (formerly called Imperial Museum of Calcutta before independence) is a massive museum in Central Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is the ninth oldest museum in the world and the oldest and largest museum in Asia, by size of collection. It has rare collections of antiques, armour and ornaments, fossils, skeletons, mummies and Mughal Paintings. It was founded by the Asiatic Society of Bengal in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, on February 2, 1814. The founder curator was Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish botanist.

The present building, opened in 1875, comprises sections devoted to geology, zoology, industry, archaeology, art, and ethnology. The coin room contains the largest collection of Indian coins in the world.

The art section is noted for its textiles, carpets, lacquer-work, glass and pottery. The gallery displays examples of Persian and Indian paintings, and the geological section is the largest in Asia and one of the most important in the world. There is a large collection of statues and bronzes from various Asian civilizations, including life-size models of people and animals of the regions of India.

World Ostrich Day

World Ostrich Day was first celebrated in 2020 to raise awareness of the two remaining species of Ostrich. The second day of the second month was chosen because the Ostrich has just two toes on each foot. This day was chosen by Jade Tinker, an ungulates keeper from Auckland Zoo.

There are two species of Ostrich, the Common (Red Necked) Ostrich and the Somali (Blue Necked) Ostrich.

The Common Ostrich Struthio camelus is common and so is of least concern whereas the Somali Ostrich Struthio molybdophanes is vulnerable as the region it inhabits is going through some political strife and there are bandit groups.

The Common Ostrich is now farmed worldwide for its meat, skin and feathers. In the 1980's Ostrich farming was seen to be a big investment but it largely failed. Just because you have a pair of birds doesn't mean they will breed. Ostrich racing takes place in South Africa and the US.

There were a number of Ostrich species and subspecies occurring elsewhere in Africa and Arabia but all are now gone. The last recorded Ostrich in Arabia was in the 1960's.

Why celebrate World Ostrich Day?

·       Ostriches are a unique species that play a vital role in the natural world. 

·        Ostriches are known for their speed and two-toed feet. 

·        Ostriches are often depicted in art as symbols of beauty, nobility, and playfulness. 

·        Ostriches are flightless birds native to Africa. 

·       Ostriches are threatened by hunting and habitat destruction.