Magic visits the Natural History Museum in London

What do a manatee and a mermaid have in common? You can learn about their case of mistaken identity with the help of the Natural History Museum and Google Arts & Culture.  From unicorns to dragons, and flying snakes to shrinking lizards, mythical creatures are being united with their real-world cousins in a new project by London’s Natural History Museum, brought online for all to explore. With inspiration from the magical world of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the new exhibition and online highlights allow fans everywhere to discover the links between the real and the imagined.

Take a virtual stroll around and explore the installation in 360 degrees. The project shows off the real-life “magic” of the natural world: the incredible behaviors, traits and features that have evolved, enabling animals to survive and thrive in the wild. The exhibition also reveals some of the biggest threats they face, and hopes to inspire everyone to help save precious natural habitats and their residents.

There are 20 new digital stories to explore, created with artifacts, specimens and videos selected with the help of some of the 300 scientists and curators from the Museum. They tell us fascinating tales about the complexity, wonder and fragility of the natural world. Find over 100 incredible specimens from the Natural History Museum collection, including the inquisitive pangolin and the vibrant creatures of the reef.  You’ll also find incredible artifacts from the Fantastic Beasts films, including tools used to capture and care for magical beasts.

Once you’ve learned about a mystery skull from the 1330s or a species of shrinking lizards, have some fun by challenging your friends to a multiplayer puzzle party, or create your own mythical beast with specially designed coloring books. 

Explore the magic at g.co/NHMFantasticBeasts online and with the Google Arts & Culture app for Android or iOS.