(Crocodylus cataphractus, African slender-snouted crocodile) Crocodiles evolved more than 200 million years ago and lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. (Crocodylus cataphractus, African slender-snouted crocodile) Crocodiles evolved more than 200 million years ago and lived at the same time as the dinosaurs.

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Become a Patron of the Annual Fund

Become a Patron of the Natural History Museum's Annual Fund and help our scientists go further. 

Every year the Natural History Museum undertakes scientific expeditions to countries across the globe. These vital journeys gather new knowledge about the natural world, helping us find the best ways to protect our ecosystems and to save vulnerable species from extinction.

Past and present scientific expeditions

Soil sampling group in New Forest

Sampling soil in the New Forest

Previous overseas expeditions have unearthed some amazing discoveries. For example, a new species of bone-eating marine worm called Osedax mucofloris was found surviving in the shallow waters of the North Sea. Here in the UK we are running a 10-year expedition to monitor the effects of climate change on British woodland soil and litter microfauna in the New Forest. 

Will you become a Patron of the Annual Fund and help support scientific expeditions?
Spanish bluebell

Spanish bluebell

Our Annual Fund programme supports a specific part of the Museum’s work each year. For 2008-2009, funds raised will help finance our scientific expeditions such as visiting the Iberian Peninsula to understand how the invasive Spanish bluebell may be threatening native British bluebells. We will also go to India to complete a species inventory of its amphibians and reptiles.



Visit our Online Shop and Become a Patron now

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Cartoon image of footprints leading through closing door

Our scientists study the snails that host the schistosomiasis parasite, which causes a disease that affects nearly 200 million people.