The Museum will be closed on Tuesday, 24 December 2024, from 10 AM to 1 PM. Normal operations will continue after 1 PM. The Museum will remain open on Christmas Day, Wednesday, 25 December 2024.

Learn more about our

Research

Zoological Reference Collection

The Zoological Reference Collection (ZRC) has over a million zoological specimens from over 10,000 species, a majority of the specimens originating from Southeast Asia. Many groups of animals are well represented in the collectionsome of these among the best in the world and many of them irreplaceable historical specimens.

Invertebrates

Singapore’s Biodiversity

A few crustacean specimens caught from the SJADES 2018 expedition.

Expeditions


Our dedicated team of researchers embark on expeditions which dive deep into the wonders of the natural world. Discover new species, unravel new ecosystems, and contribute to global scientific knowledge with our team.

A museum staff in a white lab coat peering into a microscope with jars of specimens and lab equipment surrounding him.

Staff Publications

Our researchers at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum have been actively contributing to the field of natural sciences through their research in taxonomy and systematics, evolutionary biology, and biodiversity conservation. Their work reflects a dedication to understanding and preserving both Singapore and Southeast Asia’s natural heritage.

A group photo of visiting scientists with Museum staff in one of the Museum’s laboratories.

Visiting Researchers

The Museum is delighted to serve as a central hub where scientists from around the world can come together, share ideas, and pursue their research. 

Check out our list of visiting researchers since 2015.

A dead pangolin carcass lying on a pavement with a measuring tape stretched out beside it.

Dead Wildlife Reporting in Singapore

Wildlife sightings of uncommon animals are rare in Singapore and sadly, more often than not, they show up dead as roadkill, or due to injury or old age. The body, however,  is still important for research and education. Members of the public can alert us when they see wildlife carcasses in various corners of Singapore.

Dead Bird Reporting in Singapore

Millions of birds die each year due to collision with man-made structures. Many of these deaths go unreported, yet they each hold a piece of the bigger puzzle that scientists are still attempting to unravel. Each bird carcass that is reported or collected contributes to valuable, irreplaceable virtual and physical biorepositories that could otherwise be difficult to obtain.

A wall of fungi specimens on display.

Herbarium

SINU Herbarium has 35,000 specimens, mostly collected in Singapore and Malaysia. The collection comprises the following groups: flowering plants, ferns, mosses, liverworts, fungi, and algae. It is now under the care of the Herbarium at the Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG). For loaning of specimens, please send your request to The Herbarium Manager at SBG. For more information, please visit the SBG website.