Conserving, Rehousing, and Reunifying Elephant and Bovid Specimens

A major collections stewardship project at the American Museum of Natural History.

Overview

With funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Science Conservation and the Department of Mammalogy have partnered in undertaking a transformative project to preserve two exceptional and historically significant zoological collections: the African and Asian elephant skulls, and the African bovid skeletal collection. This project represents the final phase of a comprehensive, multi-year initiative to upgrade the care, storage, and accessibility of these irreplaceable specimens—some of the largest and rarest in the world.

Why This Matters

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) holds one of the country’s largest and most important collections of elephant and bovid specimens, gathered during expeditions in the early 20th century. These collections are not only a record of Earth's biodiversity, but a critical resource for advancing research in conservation biology, morphology, and evolution. In recent decades, field collection of large mammals has virtually ceased due to conservation efforts and legal restrictions. As such, the historical collections at AMNH have become even more vital for scientific study. Preserving them ensures continued access for researchers, educators, and the public for generations to come.

Project Goals

  • Conserve fragile and deteriorating specimens, especially elephant skulls.
  • Rehouse elephants skulls in new travel/storage mounts and archival enclosures.
  • Transport both collections into modern, climate-controlled, and accessible collection storage.
  • Reunify collection components—bringing together specimens in both collections that are currently split across several storage facilities.
  • Digitize selected elephant skulls using 3D scanning, increasing global access for research and education.
Ventral view of teeth and jawbone placed on a solid background with a card of color squares and a cart that reads Elephas maximus before treatment. Elephas maximus before treatment.
© AMNH
Ventral view of teeth and jawbone placed on a solid background with a card of color squares and a cart that reads Elephas maximus before treatment. Elephas maximus after treatment.
© AMNH

About the Collections

Elephant Skulls

The Department of Mammalogy is home to approximately 80 elephant specimens. Since the late 1970s, the elephants have been stored in an attic space within the museum that could accommodate their size, but does not meet current standards for museum care. The post-crania (skeletal elements apart from the skull) from this large collection (which are significantly easier to move) were transported from the attic to climate controlled storage.

Relocation of the post-crania was a major step in protecting this collection, but its present distribution across two locations limits research efforts to analyze a single complete skeleton. It also increases the risk that smaller bones, or other components like teeth could become separated from their data. Reunifying the skulls with the post-crania is an important step in mitigating these risks to ensure the long-term preservation of the collection.

African Bovids

The African bovid collection contains over 3500 specimens representing more than 70 species. It includes iconic species like eland, kudu, and African buffalo. The museum's new Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation is home to state-of-the-art collections storage capacity where most of the bovids are presently housed. However, a portion remains in a separate location in older cabinetry. In reuniting the collection within the Gilder Center, the entire bovid collection will be housed in new storage furniture with climate-control.

Impact and Benefits

  • Enhanced Research Access: Scientists will have the ability to easily study a single skeleton, greatly improving the efficiency of comparative research.
  • Preservation for the Future: High-quality cabinetry, climate-control, new mounts and enclosures fabricated from archival materials, and dust protection will protect specimens from physical and environmental damage.
  • Global Digital Access: 3D scans of elephant skulls will be available to the public, supporting research and education.
  • Equity and Accessibility: New storage locations reduce physical barriers, allowing all researchers, regardless of mobility, to more safely access the collections.
  • Training the Next Generation: Conservation interns will gain hands-on experience in managing large and fragile natural history collections.

Click the arrow to view a 3D model of Loxodonta cyclotis.

Catalog Number M-119619/© AMNH

Collection care not only safeguards invaluable scientific resources but also embodies AMNH’s mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate—through scientific research and education—knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe. Our investment in the conservation and accessibility of these iconic collections drives collections stewardship, education, and the global effort to understand and protect life on Earth.