African Savanna Comes to Life at Chongqing Natural History Museum

Chongqing - How can a giraffe drink without getting dizzy? Why are zebras covered in black-and-white stripes? And what led the aardwolf — a rare member of the hyena family — to become one of nature's most specialized termite hunters?

These and other questions about the African savanna — the iconic landscape that inspired The Lion King — are now being explored at the Chongqing Natural History Museum.

The Call of the Wild — Wildlife of the Southern Hemisphere opened at the museum on July 21. Co-organized by the Chongqing Natural History Museum and the Inner Mongolia Museum of Natural History, the exhibition features lifelike animal specimens and skeletal displays that reveal the ecological relationships and survival strategies of species across the African savanna.

The exhibition is divided into three sections: "The Colorful African Continent," "Bursting Vitality," and "Imprints of the Wilderness." It follows a narrative journey from the savanna's broader ecosystem to the survival strategies of individual species, and finally to the cultural connections between indigenous communities and the natural world they have lived alongside for generations.

Survival strategies on display

At the entrance, a dramatic tableau brings the savanna's central theme of survival to life. On one side, a wildebeest skeleton is frozen mid-chase; on the other, a warthog and a white-tailed mongoose stand side by side, illustrating the complex relationships and interdependence among species.

"The exhibition goes beyond simply displaying animal forms," the curator said. "It highlights the unique evolutionary adaptations different species have developed, helping visitors appreciate the remarkable strategies that allow each life form to survive."

In the "Highland Lookout" section, a nearly six-meter-tall giraffe head-and-neck specimen attracts visitors. The giraffe's elongated neck offers two key advantages: allowing it to reach high acacia leaves beyond the reach of many other herbivores and giving it a wide field of view to spot predators from a distance. Diagrams beside the specimen explain the special valve structures in the giraffe's jugular veins that prevent blood from rushing to its head when it bends down to drink.

Nearby, two vervet monkey specimens complement the giraffe display. When a giraffe's vision is limited while feeding close to the ground, monkeys — perched in trees with an unobstructed view — issue alarm calls at the first sign of danger, creating a unique partnership between the treetops and the ground.

On the other side, skulls of hartebeest and gazelle demonstrate the wide-angle vision of antelopes. With eyes positioned on the sides of their heads, these animals have a field of view spanning more than 300 degrees.

In the "Long-Tongued Termite Eater" section, an aardwolf specimen drew curious visitors. The aardwolf, a unique member of the hyena family, has evolved a specialized diet of termites, allowing it to avoid competition with larger carnivores. Over time, its teeth have become reduced, while it developed a sticky tongue up to 10 centimeters long, allowing it to consume 200,000 to 300,000 termites in a single night.

The gerenuk, also known as the "giraffe gazelle," is equally remarkable. With slender, elongated limbs, it can rear up on its hind legs to browse high branches, avoiding competition for lower vegetation. Its tall stature also helps it detect predators such as cheetahs from a distance.

Stripes as evolutionary signatures

In the "Striped Illusion" section, a zebra specimen attracted many visitors. The zebra's black-and-white stripes are an evolutionary adaptation shaped over millions of years. In the dappled light of woodlands and grasslands, the stripes disrupt the animal's body outline, making it harder for predators such as lions and hyenas to track. When a herd runs together, the shifting patterns make it even more difficult for predators to single out an individual. The stripes may also help reduce attacks from blood-sucking insects.

A caption next to the display reveals a surprising fact: zebras are actually black with white stripes. Their skin is black, and white stripes form where some hair loses its melanin. Each zebra's stripe pattern is unique, allowing individuals to recognize each other while the herd blends together as a whole.

Nearby, a bushbuck specimen demonstrates similar camouflage wisdom. The bushbuck's pale vertical stripes "break up" its body outline against bushes and tree shadows, making it harder for predators to lock on.

Massive specimens and cross-regional cooperation

Among the exhibition's most impressive displays is an African buffalo specimen nearly three meters long. Because its length exceeded the size of the service elevator, five staff members had to carry it up the museum's escalator.

The African buffalo is one of the savanna's most aggressive species. Its thick, curved horns cover nearly its entire forehead, forming a solid "bone helmet" that serves as a powerful weapon against lion attacks.

The final section, "Imprints of the Wilderness," shifts the focus from animals to humans. Rock art, wooden artifacts, and traditional household items offer insights into how local communities have observed wildlife, respected the natural environment, and adapted their way of life over generations.

The exhibition's closing statement reads: "All life shares the same wilderness; humanity has never walked alone. To care for all beings is to care for ourselves."

Gao Bichun, director of the Chongqing Natural History Museum, described the exhibition as a significant achievement in cross-regional museum cooperation. By combining professional resources and valuable exhibits from the Inner Mongolia Museum of Natural History with the Chongqing museum's own collections, the exhibition presents a scientifically informative and visually engaging portrait of the Southern Hemisphere's natural environment. She added that the exhibition seeks to demonstrate that natural science is not merely knowledge found in textbooks, but a cultural experience that can inspire curiosity, emotion, and reflection.

A public lecture on wildlife ecology in the East African Rift Valley and wildlife conservation was also held on the exhibition's opening day.