Biofact Basics

What is a biofact?

Biofacts include parts, replicas, or models of a living or deceased organism used for education. Zoo Atlanta's biofact collection also includes enrichment devices, animal body part prints, and products made from animal parts.

Where do biofacts come from?

Biofacts can be...

Borrowed (for example, from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
Purchased (typically from companies that specialize in making replicas of natural items)
Created (for example, hand/foot/paw prints made during veterinary exams or feathers collected from bird habitats)
Donated (this is rare)

How are biofacts managed?

The Biofact Team is responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures for biofact management.
We use a library software called ResourceMate to store information, conduct inventory, and facilitate item check out/in.
Each item in the collection is assigned a unique ZA number which corresponds to the item's barcode.
Most items available for check out are stored in the Biofact Museum in the ARC.

Guest Access to Biofacts

Each item in the collection is assigned a Guest Access Level, which is indicated by a colored sticker on the item's container or the item itself. The Guest Access Label provides guidance on the closest level of interaction allowed for guests and program participants.

Team members are encouraged to use their best judgment on a case-by-case basis to determine the appropriate interaction level for a guest or group. For example, on a busy day, interpreters may decide to only allow touch (and not hold) for a green item.

Green

Guests may hold the item with close supervision.

Yellow

Guests may touch the item but not hold it.

*The scientific touch is recommended.

Red

Guests may look at the item but not touch it. Team members should also minimize direct contact with "red" items.

Biofact Storage & Organization

Shelves in the Biofact Museum are divided by continent, then further divided by taxa. For example, there are several "North America" shelves. North American taxa are organized on different shelves within the section.
Each shelf is assigned a number, and each item/container has an orange sticker which designates the specific shelf it belongs on.
Each item is labelled with essential information: ZA number, title/description, real/replica (and "Name" of individual animal, if known), and shelving area (e.g. Africa, North America, Asia, Other, etc.)/
Items may or may not be stored in various types of containers. Labels and barcodes may be on an item's container or attached to the item itself.
Barcodes are used to improve efficiency of the check out/in and inventory process - they do not correspond to any cost or assigned monetry value.

If you have any questions about biofact storage, organization, management, acquisition, disposal, or even individual items, please reach out to Sarah Hamilton on the Interpretive Programs team.

Last updated 6/9/25

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