Tanja: Up Close
New exhibition from 17 October
The exhibition explores the relationship between humans and animals. The love and connection that visitors have felt and still feel for Tanja reflects the depth of our bond with animals. It is this connection that makes Tanja a living symbol of the changing ways in which we view nature.
Join us!
Tanja passed away on 25 December 2009. On that day, hundreds of visitors gathered to say farewell to the animal that had captured such a special place in their hearts. Even now, years later, Tanja remains a living memory for many. What explains the enduring fascination with Tanja? Why does she continue to capture the imagination, generations on? Artist AlexP is searching for the answer and he needs your help. Do you have photos or drawings of Tanja? Share them with ARTIS and contribute to a collective artwork.
Then and now
How did animals used to arrive at ARTIS? How were they cared for, and what has changed over time? Why was Tanja the last hippopotamus at ARTIS? And why was she chosen to be preserved after her death? Through the story of Tanja and her predecessors, the history of ARTIS becomes tangible, along with the major developments that took place within it. From a time when seeing a hippopotamus was a rarity to a world filled with nature documentaries.
A Look at the Hippopotamus
The relationship between humans and hippos has changed over the centuries. Hippos are hunted for their ivory and threatened by the loss of their natural habitat. In regions where the animal was once widespread, it has now nearly disappeared. We humans are their greatest enemy. In the storyline “A Look at the Hippopotamus”, visitors get a bird’s-eye view of how perceptions of hippos have evolved through the ages, from symbols of fertility to vulnerable species.
Life after death
How can animals continue to inspire after death? In the Cabinet of Taxidermy, visitors discover through the story of Tanja how animal preservation works and why ARTIS engages in this practice. From tools and techniques to the conservation of both small and large specimens, this cabinet offers a behind-the-scenes look at the work of ARTIS’s collection managers. It’s a unique opportunity to see how taxidermied animals remain part of the ongoing story of nature.
