Research loans
Green pit viper, Tropidolaemus wagleri. This tree dwelling snake is found in southeast Asia and is also known as the temple viper or Wagler's pit viper.
Zoology collection material can be loaned for scientific research purposes to approved borrowers, subject to certain conditions. Please ensure you read the terms and conditions before making a loan request.
Research loan general terms and conditions PDF (35.8 KB)
It is departmental policy to expect researchers in the UK to make a study visit to the Natural History Museum rather than request a loan. This is to save fragile and wet-preserved material having to be committed to the post unnecessarily.
Find out about research visits to the zoology collections
Arranging a loan
All loan requests should be directed to the appropriate collection manager or curator.
Before contacting them, researchers wishing to access information on the Museum’s collections should first consult our online collections. The Fish Group has their entire collection databased.
Zoology online collections FishBasePlease be aware that it can take 1 to 3 months to fully process most loan requests due to the large volume that the Zoology Department handles.
To speed up the progress of your loan request, please follow the advice provided. The document also contains information about requesting release of Museum registration numbers.
Loan request advice PDF (32.7 KB)
Related documents
- Research loan general terms and conditions PDF (35.8 KB)
- Loan request advice PDF (32.7 KB)
- Approved borrower application form PDF (39.7 KB)
- Approved borrower application form (student version) PDF (40.1 KB)
- Destructive and invasive sampling request form PDF (71.8 KB)
- Transfer of title form PDF (45.1 KB)
Toolbox
Database templates
If you prepare a database of part of our collection while visiting or borrowing material from us we will ask you to use a template that is compatible with our electronic collections management system. This will enable us to import the data.