Updated: 02/11/2013 03:02 | By Channel NewsAsia

Rare exhibits dating back 150 million years to go on display

SINGAPORE: The first of what visitors to the upcoming Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum’s new building can expect to see were put on display recently including a prehistoric shrimp and an ancient relative of sea stars.

The exhibits are part of the collection that will be housed in the museum’s new building at the National University of Singapore, as announced at the building’s recent groundbreaking ceremony.

Singapore’s Ambassador—at—Large and Honorary Chairman of Singapore’s National Heritage Board, Professor Tommy Koh, graced the event.

Professor Koh first advocated the idea for a natural history museum for Singapore in 2004.

When completed in 2014, the new building is set to house one of the largest collections of Southeast Asian biodiversity in the region as well as three nearly—complete dinosaur fossils — fondly known as Prince, Apollonia and Twinky — from the Jurassic period.

— CNA/ck