Google Arts & Culture brings extinct world to life

Thanks to Google, all the nature enthusiasts and history lovers can now have an interactive, dynamic and immersive discovery experience of the diversity and fragility of nature.

In partnership with leading natural history institutions worldwide, Google has introduced a set of online exhibitions which enable web users to discover natural history treasures.

The new collection uses state-of-the-art technology to give a new virtual life to extinct animals, and enables people to browse over a hundred fascinating stories related to the world's most known fossils, and learn about plants, insects and minerals.

“With just a few clicks, you can come face to face with a 180 million year old giant, as virtual reality raises the colossal sea dragon from extinction. Discovered in Dorset, UK and residing at London’s Natural History Museum, the Rhomaleosaurus can now be explored in 360 degrees,” Amit Sood, director of the Google Cultural Institute shared in its official blog.

More than 50 leading institutions from 16 countries including India’s own Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) have created over a hundred interactive stories sharing a total of 300,000 photos, videos and other documents online in collaboration with Google.

The latest innovations in technology help bring the magic of these legendary venues to life, and give everyone a chance to reconnect with our evolution story and the richness of our planet.

Indian highlights on the app include two virtual exhibits created by CSMVS. "Fauna of Indian Subcontinent”, curated by Mr. Manoj Chaudhari, Assistant Curator (Natural History), draws attention to some of the endangered native Indian species.

"The Animal in Indian Art" explores the representation of animals in paintings, literature and as stylized motifs in sculptures from India over the years. It includes the famous, “Peregrine Falcon on Perch”, a favorite of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and painted by Manohar and Ustad Mansur.

You can visit the site here