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About our wildlife collection

Our new national collections building

We've combined our collection vaults with cutting-edge laboratories to drive scientific discovery.

What's in our wildlife collection

We hold almost 200 000 irreplaceable scientific specimens of wildlife, including skins, skeletons, specimens in spirit, bird egg collections, a wildlife sound library and frozen tissue.

The purpose of our wildlife collection

Our collection is a vital archive for research and conservation of Australia's terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity.

Digitising our collections

We are digitising our natural history collections to support biodiversity discovery, quarantine, heritage and innovation.

Our wildlife sound archive

Our archive of wildlife sound recordings is the most comprehensive library of its kind in Australia and is among the largest in the world.

The history of our wildlife collection

For over 50 years, we have strived to be a modern collection of national scope for Australian land vertebrates including birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

Genomics: decoding the blueprints for Australia’s biodiversity

Scientists can sequence genomes faster than ever before – and it is revolutionising research into pests and wildlife.

Unlocking nature's time machine: Revolutionising collections science

Australia’s natural advantage gives us the possibility of succeeding to protect our biodiversity on a grand scale – and collections science is key.

Protecting the Tjakuṟa

In Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, researchers are partnering with Indigenous Knowledge holders to protect a threatened skink.

For general ANWC enquiries and loans

Australian National Wildlife Collection

ANWC staff

The Australian National Wildlife Collection staff are dedicated to the maintenance of our large collection of land vertebrates including birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

Our team