Natural History Museum of Aliabad-e Katul

Natural History Museum of Aliabad-e Katul was established in 1382 SH in the beautiful jungle of Kabud-Val, four kilometers southeast of Aliabad-e Katul and Haroun jungle. Different settlements are seen in this province including water, land, lagoon, mountain and steppe (an area covered by thorns and short shrubs). Settlements are diverse natural settings where different species live.

Each natural setting has its own specific conditions so that the existing species are uniquely consistent with conditions like temperature, humidity, the salinity of the soil, water and nutrition. The species existing in a settlement are relying on each other and they live together; plants grow by the sunlight and the water received from the soil. some animals eat plants and some eats other animals. In fact, the sunlight, as the main source of energy, is converted into different forms of energy and supplies the needs of all beings to survive. Therefore, the conservation of the species diversity in habitats is essential for maintaining their natural procedure. The more diversity in a habitat, the longer food chain and the more complicated life cycle is, the more sustainable the setting will be. Consequently, the biodiversity in each region is considered to be the key to the sustainability and health of the natural environment.

In the Museum of Natural History of Aliabad-e Katul, Golestan province, which is one of the main habitats of Iran in terms of biodiversity, the nature of the province and its habitats are introduced. There are totally ten chambers in this museum each dedicated to samples of the region’s plants (herbarium), birds, mammals, insects, shells, minerals, fossils and reptiles.  Animals and birds are exhibited as taxidermied interesting among which are fox, owl, local birds, wild cat, marten etc. Another aim of this museum is introducing animals, plants, fossils, minerals, stones as well as natural habitats along with interpreting and describing the elements of the nature, their relations with each other and with human, its value and importance of sustainable relation between human and nature. The Natural History Museum of Aliabad-e Katul is open to public visit.