The Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster invade the Natural History Museum

BarcelonaEvery second that passes, animals we have yet to see or study disappear. Species that live in remote corners of the planet, that escape human observation, or that have been poorly documented, silently cease to exist. In this context, the Barcelona Museum of Natural Sciences presents a unique and provocative exhibition: Invisible Animals: Myth, Life, Extinction, De-extinction, which opens its doors to the public this Saturday, May 17, 2025, and can be visited until the same day in 2026.

The exhibition is the result of a long-standing project led by writer and naturalist Gabi Martínez and explorer Jordi Serrallonga, both curators. Inspired by more than a decade of expeditions, studies, and research on little-known, legendary, or extinct animals, the authors have created a proposal that blends scientific outreach and artistic reflection. The exhibition becomes a space where art and science join hands to explore the limits of what we consider real and what we categorize as imaginary. "Invisible animals are like branches cut from a tree," says Martínez. "If we keep cutting branches, we will endanger the entire tree and stop seeing life as we know it."

Through an immersive and multidisciplinary tour, the exhibition presents animals that we only know because they are extinct, such as dinosaurs or the dodo; chupacabra, and species that are still alive but so elusive that almost no one has ever seen them, such as the giant squid or the tree pangolin. These figures invite us to reflect on the relationship between knowledge, perception, and memory.

Myths and life

The exhibition is structured into four thematic areas. The first—Myth—brings together creatures that inhabit legends and myths from cultures around the world, such as the Himalayan Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, and the sirens who sing from the rocks. All of these are intangible heritage that has fascinated humanity for centuries and has featured in publications of all kinds. The exhibition shows how the human imagination has shaped these creatures through art, literature, and even speculative science. Paintings, sculptures, ritual artifacts, comics, and multimedia projections offer a diverse and intercultural look at these beasts that, despite not existing biologically, have a strong presence in our collective consciousness.

In the second area—called Life—photographs, videos, audio samples of animal sounds, and expedition accounts offer a sensorial and emotional experience that connects us with those animals that, despite existing, are almost invisible because they live in extremely remote and fragile habitats. From the pink river dolphin that inhabits the waters of the Amazon to tiny marsupials from the islands of Indonesia, these creatures are living witnesses to the biodiversity that still inhabits our planet. But they are also often the most vulnerable to climate change, ecosystem destruction, and human activity.

Extinction, the third area of the exhibition, is dedicated to animals that have already disappeared. Fossils, skeletons, footprints, and preserved remains tell us about creatures that once dominated the Earth. The mammoth and the Tasmanian tiger are some of the examples on display, allowing us to reflect on the Earth's biological memory, the importance of the fossil record, and the impact these disappearances have on the balance of ecosystems.

Finally, the last section addresses a question increasingly present in scientific and ethical debates: is it possible to revive an extinct species? Using cloning techniques, DNA recovery, and genetic engineering, some initiatives seek to bring animals such as the mammoth and the passenger pigeon back to life. But these initiatives are not just science fiction: they raise profound ethical dilemmas about the limits of human intervention in nature. This space, in addition to showcasing the scientific possibilities of de-extinction, highlights the role of art as a tool to preserve the memory of extinct species. Paintings, novels, musical pieces, and tattoos serve to keep the symbolic presence of these animals alive.

Parallel activities

Invisible animals It's an exhibition that appeals to emotion, critical thinking, and curiosity. It combines audiovisuals, touch screens, comic book illustrations, sculptures, and recreations of lost animals, such as the dodo and the skeleton of a mammoth found in Barcelona. It also features a library and reading area dedicated to children, with stories, illustrated books, and participatory activities that foster interest in wildlife and respect for the planet.

All materials used have been selected with ecological criteria in mind, utilizing biomaterials derived from organic waste and reusable mounting systems. This ecological philosophy is not only part of the form but also the substance of the exhibition's discourse: preserving what we can still salvage and remembering what we have already lost.