Old specimens get a makeover

While most people are preoccupied with the discomfort that the high humidity brings during the annual plum rain reason, Lin Youyu was more anxious about mold forming on his beloved scientific specimens.

More specifically, the taxidermy specimens are of a monkey, a lamb and a duck that he created-60 years ago.

These specimens, which are today kept at the Shanghai Experimental Primary School in the city's Huangpu district, are used during natural science classes.

"I also told the school to disinfect the specimens in the sun, as well as place mothballs in their cases to prevent bugs. The specimens are very old," says the retired science teacher.

Born in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, Lin moved to Shanghai in 1949 and was among the first science teachers in the city after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The 102-year-old made many animal specimens in the 1950s and '60s and also played a key role in creating 30 science textbooks as schools then lacked such teaching materials.

Lin recalls that he and his peers in the school had to teach themselves taxidermy on the dead animals that they requested students to bring to school.

"We wanted to teach the students about the natural world in a more direct way. But we didn't know how to perform taxidermy in the beginning, so we bought books and just followed the instructions," Lin says.

The school eventually amassed a collection of animal specimens. At its peak, the school had some 70 preserved animals that aided with their scientific education efforts.

In early August, the Shanghai Natural History Museum learned of Lin's concerns about his old specimens and sent a group of specialists to help restore them. The preserved animals, the team said, will first be placed in a freezer to kill any germs before restoration work begins.

Zhang Tangming, a specimen specialist of the museum, says he was surprised to see that a school teacher could have created such well-made animal specimens.

"Even by today's standards, these are considered very good," Zhang says. "We will do our best to bring back their shape and color."

Qin Jizhong, a former student of Lin, says he and his classmates were all amazed by the vivid animal specimens at Lin's science class.

"They were so good that they were often loaned to other schools due to the shortage of such teaching aids," recalls Qin.

The principal Yang Rong says that though the school has bought many new examples, the old ones made by Lin will be still on display in the laboratory after their restoration.

"They are not just teaching tools. They also show the professionalism of our teachers," says Yang. "When the autumn semester begins, students will once again be able to observe the old specimens and learn from them."