Didactic collection of cynegetics
Visualisation collection: animals
The didactic collection of cynegetics Prof. dr. eng. Aurel Negruţiu contains naturalized material, of the vertebrate zoology area, species of birds (Aves) and mammals (Mammalia) pertaining to Romania’s fauna, trophies (both skulls and furs), as well as an oologic collection. Its bases have been laid since 1948, and the provenance varies. Most pieces come from some specialists’ donations – such as the collection Hausmann – but also from the didactic and technical staff, students, passionate hunters etc. We find here 50 mammals (bear, wolf, Carpathian deer, fallow deer, wild boar, chamois, lynx, wild cat, various species of rodents etc.), 100 hunting trophies, among which 80 skull trophies and 20 fur trophies, 70 birds (day and night birds of prey, grouse, pheasant, wild duck etc.), 80 eggs, aquatic animals. The animals proceed, as we specified, from various areas of our country, both mountain and plain areas, as well as from the aquatic environment (fish). Among these, a particular importance is held by the species of animals that have disappeared from us, such as Ibex goat or rock goat (scientifically Capra hircus Ibex) which, in the remote past, populated the heights of our mountains. For repopulating with this species, in 1979, a first batch of 21 specimens was brought in Ciucas mountain, but it subsequently disappeared. There is characteristic for this species that its horns never fall, but every year a new layer is added, increasing in length. Among the valuable bird species, we meet here the black eagle (extinct), polar owl, little owl, polar partridge, grouse etc. The trophy part has in its turn special specimens such as the silver-medalled chamois trophy, gold and silver-medalled wild boar trophies, a mouflon trophy, a bison trophy and a collection of deer trophies, which show, relative to size and chronologically, the ages of these animals. Among the personalities having brought their contribution to constituting and developing the cynegetic collection, we encounter names such as: Emeric Elekeş, Alexandru Duda, Horia Almăşan, Aurel Negruţiu etc.
The conservation state of the collection is good and relatively good, the animals being kept as such in the hall, or in showcases and drawers. This year, the oologic collection was restored and completed. The specific data as regards the displayed objects are found in their inventory sheets.
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Figure 3. Mouflon trophy (cynegetic collection) |
Figure 4. Forest eagle owl (chicken), naturalized 1875 (ornithological collection) |
The collection of naturalized birds, which is part of the cynegetic collection, is completed by another collection, older, namely the ornithological collection Wilhelm Ernst Hausmann. This one also pertained to the former Saxon Museum of Ţara Bârsei, and reflects the ornithofauna of the XIX-th century and early XX-th century. Here, a number of 749 birds from various species may be found. The bustard (male and female), pelican, stork, forest eagle owl (from 1875 and 1909), little owl, pygmy owl, hissing white owl (1889), swan are just a few of them. Here, inclusively birds that today have disappeared from the territory of our country may be found. The exhibits are conserved in a hall with windows protected by dark curtain windows, in glass showcases. Their evidence document is an inventory list.