What is it and where is it?

The Butantan Institute is a renowned Brazilian research center in the area of biotechnology founded at the beginning of the 20th century by the physician and immunologist Vital Brazil. The Institute consists of a small zoo, library, museums and a hospital (reference in the care of accidents caused by venomous animals).
Here in the city where I live, in São Paulo, is one of the many tourist spots to be visited by people who are passing through, or locals who are simply in search of culture and leisure.

Entrance of the Butantan Institute

The founder

No wonder that Butantan Institute is located in the avenue of the same name of its founder, Vital Brazil, since this was a visionary, a revolutionary and a great man of his time. More than a hundred years ago, when most people still lived in the countryside, it was extremely common for people to die after being attacked by venomous animals like snakes and scorpions. And thanks to Vital Brazil's great discovery that there is a specific serum to combat the venom of each venomous animal, there was a rapid and decisive change in the prognosis of this problem that affected so many Brazilians in the last century.

Bust of Vital Brazil

External area

From the beginning, when entering, it is difficult to know which place to visit first among so many options, such as the Biological Museum, Serpentarium, Museum of Microbiology, Historical Museum and why not ... the Cafeteria.

Signaling

The nearest place to the entrance is the Serpentarium, which is a cluster of outdoor moats containing reptiles (mainly snakes), always accompanied by informative panels.

Serpentarium

Information panels

Biological Museum

The Biological Museum sits in an enclosed space where visitors can approach snakes and animals in general (mostly reptiles), separated only by glass walls.

Snake in your enclosure

Other reptiles can also be found

Museum of Microbiology

The Museum of Microbiology is part of the scientific and cultural complex of the Butantan Institute. Its main mission is to stimulate scientific curiosity in young people and to provide opportunities for bringing scientific culture closer to the general public, through its exposure and educational actions. Its mission is also to constitute an important space for dissemination of activities developed by the Butantan Institute.
The space houses a long-term exhibition where visitors make an interactive journey through the invisible world of microorganisms. Computers with films, animations, interactive activities, microscopes, panels, three-dimensional models of bacteria, viruses and protozoa explain the basis of Microbiology and reveal what are called "germs" or microbes. There is also an interactive and playful exhibition for children from 4 to 6 years old with the aim of bringing them closer to the world of microorganisms.

Entrance of the Museum of Microbiology

Inside the Museum of Microbiology

Historical Museum

The Historical Museum aims to research, preserve and disseminate the history of science and health, especially the Butantan Institute. In conjunction with the Biological Museum and the Museum of Microbiology, the Historical Museum is committed to the social responsibility of expanding access to institutional collections, service and strengthening the relationship with the visiting public within a continuous process of renewal and critical training.
The Historical Museum also holds temporary exhibitions in partnership with laboratories of the Butantan Institute and other institutions on topics related to the history of science and health.

Inside the Historical Museum

Hospital Vital Brazil

The Hospital Vital Brazil (HVB), specialized in the care of patients bitten by venomous animals, began its activities in November 1945. With an accumulated experience of more than six decades dedicated to care, education and research, attested by its more than 100,000 medical records, is recognized as one of the most important references in the area of venomous animal poisonings. Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, HVB maintains an emergency room service and has 10 beds for observation or hospitalization. It is located inside the Butantan Institute, next to the helipad.

Hospital Vital Brazil seen from outside

The only happiness of life is in the awareness of having accomplished something useful for the benefit of the community.

Library

With more than a century of existence, Butantan Institute Library specializes in the areas of toxins, immunology, biodiversity and biotechnology. It has a collection with approximately 15 thousand copies, among books, theses, dissertations and 200 thousand issues of scientific journals.

So, did you like the ride? Leave your opinion in the comments.