This museum teaches our children it's alright to kill and mount animals bodies or heads for our enjoyment. They claim "all the animals found at the museum were donated by various government agencies, wildlife rehabilitation centers, captive breeding programs, zoos and individuals." The reality is that the museum is the clever brainchild of Safari Club International, a group of wealthy hunters who find "pleasure" in accumulating kills and the accompanying trophies. According to one report, the club's lobbying efforts are targeted at undermining the intent of the Endangered Species Act in the name of "conservation." Aptly called the "museum of death" by its opponents, the museum has worked hard to acquire legitimacy since it first opened in 1998. But all the dioramas in the world don't compensate for the fact that taxidermy displays are a grotesque testament to human hubris and useless educational tools.
If you want to teach your kids about wildlife, go for a walk in the desert or take a trip to the mountains. You can tune in to a National Geographic special or the Discovery channel. Books, even in this day of electronic everything, still provide information to spark the imagination. Whatever you do, avoid the International Wildlife Museum and choose compassion with your dollars.
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