The Smiling Hedgehog
Dublin has been under a heavy cloud of rain for the last couple of weeks and when this happens the only thing to do is take cover. A favourite spot to do this in The Natural History Museum which is affectionately known as The Dead Zoo by Dubliners. This Victorian museum was built in 1856 to house the Royal Dublin Society’s growing collection of zoological artifacts and is one of the only intact museum Victorian museums left in Europe with little in its interior changed in over a century.
It is full to the rafters with over 10,000 animal exhibits and curiosities. Get lost in a wilderness of stuffed species from the Irish woodlands to the African plains. You’ll find diverse rangeo species from Irish butterflies and sea-shells to ancient elk and exotic birds. There’s even a cosy reading corner with books on the Natural world to pore over- a perfect space to bring kids. The most famous inhabitants of Museum are The Smiling Hedgehog of Abyssinia on the first floor (see pictured above- look carefully there is a smile on his face). The smiling hedgehog is a caretaker favourite and is often photographed by tourists. Another Natural History animal with personality is Spotticus the Giraffe (pictured below) who even has his own twitter handle @SpotticusNH to keep you up to date with all the animal chatter and activity that happens when humans are out of sight, the lights are turned off and the doors are closed!
