Vodič: Hrvatski narodni zoološki muzej

The Zoological Museum in Zagreb, founded in 1846, has developed into one of the key institutions dedicated to the research and conservation of the animal world. A guide from 1962 provides an overview of the museum's organization at that time and emphasizes the richness of its collections, which include invertebrates, vertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and extensive osteological material. Of particular value are the collections of sponges, mollusks, and bivalves from the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas, the North Atlantic, and from the lakes and seas of Europe and Asia.

The entomological and arachnological collections are notable for their exceptional abundance, created during many research expeditions. The ornithological department preserves specimens of birds of the Yugoslav fauna and a valuable collection of eggs. The ichthyological and herpetological collections include species from rivers, lakes, and the Adriatic, including numerous rare specimens. According to the guide, the museum at that time possessed about 20,000 vertebrates and approximately 338,000 invertebrates, of which about 240,000 were insects.

In addition to the collections, a special highlight is the professional library of about 13,000 volumes, which already contained numerous rare books and periodicals. Today, this guide from 1962 has antiquarian and documentary value, as it represents historical testimony to the development of the museum, its collections and scientific activities at that time.