Poo from the Zoo: UK’s largest collection of animal dung to be exhibited at Kingston venue Fusebox

Kingston venue Fusebox is set to host an exhibition quite unlike anything most Londoners will have seen before; the UK’s largest collection of animal poo.

Curated by former senior zookeeper Tracey Lee, The Origin of the Faeces: Poo from the Zoo showcases more than 100 specimens from a variety of animals, including the last dung ball from Geetha, London Zoo’s final resident elephant.

Ms Lee, who previously worked at London Zoo and has been collecting and preserving animal poo for 22 years, began her unique practice when she dried and kept the last dung ball left when the zoo’s elephants were moved to Whipsnade.

Since then, her collection has grown and grown, and today includes faeces from creatures ranging from a black rhino to a Galapagos tortoise and a caterpillar.

Ms Lee said: “I’ve been collecting and preserving animal poo for the last 22 years and in all that time it’s been in my home where it’s only ever been seen by a handful of people and never in its entirety.

“This exhibition isn’t just about poo; it’s about capturing the essence of these magnificent animals in a way that’s both educational and eye-opening. It’s a celebration of nature’s diversity, while also a sobering reminder of the environmental challenges we face.”

The exhibition is being co-organised by The Community Brain, a Kingston-based not-for-profit, and Creative Youth arts charity, alongside Ms Lee.

Robin Hutchinson MBE, director and founder of The Community Brain and Creative Youth, said: “When we first heard about Tracey’s collection and her amazing story, we just knew it had to be shared with more people.

“This is a brilliant exhibition because it gives visitors permission to talk about poo – and that’s something that appeals to people of all ages.

“I’m especially keen to use Tracey’s amazing exhibition to connect young people to the real plight of the natural world. The reality for many children today is that they can be more familiar with fictional Pokémon creatures than they are with many of the real-life species represented in Tracey’s collection. Getting up close to the creatures’ poo is a fun way to help enable this.”

The Origin of the Faeces: Poo from the Zoo will be at Fusebox from October 9 to 28, and will be free and open to all ages.

All of the samples featured are odourless and hygienic to display.