GLAM at Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

GLAM at Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) is a documentation initiative organized by Wikimedia Bangladesh aimed at preserving and digitizing the rich biological, marine and anatomical heritage of Bangladesh. As academic research continuously evolves, many rare specimens, indigenous aquatic species and intricate anatomical structures remain restricted to physical archives. This project seeks to bridge the visual knowledge gap regarding veterinary anatomy and marine biology by bringing these rare physical specimens into the digital realm. By creating a structured, open-access archive on Wikimedia platforms, the initiative ensures that these invaluable scientific materials remain globally accessible for researchers, educators, and the general public.

Quick Facts

Organizer: Wikimedia Bangladesh
Date: 10-12 May 2026
Location: Khulshi, Chattogram District, Bangladesh
Venue: Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

Participants

The core team behind the execution of this project:

Lead: Tanweer
Coordination: Rocky
Photography: Moheen, Sakib, Jibon

Background

The initiative focused on the extensive and specialized collections housed within the Faculty of Fisheries and the Faculty of Anatomy at Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. These faculties maintain highly significant academic resources that are vital for understanding regional aquatic biodiversity and detailed animal anatomy, making them ideal partners for a GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) collaboration.

Scope of Documentation

During the intensive three-day program, the documentation efforts were strategically divided across two major scientific domains:

Fisheries Heritage: High-resolution photographic documentation was carried out in the fisheries archive, capturing a vast array of both local (indigenous) and foreign (exotic) fish species. This effort focuses on preserving the visual identity of aquatic life critical to South Asian marine ecosystems.
Anatomical & Skeletal Archives: Comprehensive documentation was dedicated to the university's collections within the Faculty of Anatomy. This involved taking precise, high-fidelity documentary photographs of various animal skeletons and preserved anatomical specimens, capturing intricate structural details for scientific and educational reference.

Objectives

To bridge the digital gap in open-access scientific imagery by uploading high-quality specimens to Wikimedia Commons.
To enrich Wikipedia articles related to veterinary anatomy, ichthyology and biological sciences with accurate visual resources.
To foster institutional collaboration between Wikimedia Bangladesh and academic bodies for ongoing heritage preservation.

Activities And Outcome

During the three-day initiative, the documentation and digitization process was systematically carried out across two major academic domains of CVASU:

1. Faculty of Fisheries

In the Fisheries archive, the team focused on preserving the visual records of aquatic biodiversity and traditional fishing heritage. The documented items include:

Ichthyological Collection: High-resolution photographs of various indigenous (local) and exotic (foreign) fish species preserved in the archive.
Malacological Collection: Extensive documentation of diverse snail and mollusk shells.
Avian and Aquatic Heritage: Photographic records of preserved bird specimens, various traditional boat models and indigenous fishing gear and equipment used in regional waters.

2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

The documentation at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine involved capturing highly detailed, scientifically accurate visual resources of skeletal structures, taxidermy, and embryological specimens:

Skeletal Archives: High-fidelity photographs of complete skeletal structures of various animals and species. Notable highlights include the skeletons of humans, monkeys, elephants, horses, pigs, goats, monitor lizards and rock pythons.
Lifelike Taxidermy & Preserved Specimens: Documentation of remarkably realistic, life-sized taxidermy models and preserved specimens, including Bengal monitors (guisap), rabbits, cats, swans and several other bird species.
Anatomical Structures & Organ Systems: Detailed macro-photography of isolated animal organs and organ systems, such as the complex digestive system of a horse.
Embryological & Aquatic Archives: Visual preservation of various animal fetuses (including human, goat and pig fetuses), horseshoe crabs, multiple snake species, turtle eggs and other specialized anatomical body parts preserved for academic research.