The northern wall of the museum features two narrow display windows whose original purpose was to compare the Kishon River prior to the establishment of the state to its condition in 1974, the year when the display was designed. The curators were the nature enthusiast Ilan Tal and the artist Walter Ferguson.   Notice the dates on the maps. These display designs were not completed, and today, they feature large mammals.

It is very easy to confuse the otter with the nutria, because they are very similar. The otter is a predatory wild animal found in northern Israel and also in the rivers of Europe. In the past, it was common in all of the tributaries of the Jordan River and the Galilee, but today it is critically endangered in Israel. It can be seen, with great difficulty, in hidden corners of tributaries such as the Dan River and the Hasbani River.

In contrast, the nutria is a herbivore, doesn’t naturally belong in Israel, and is defined as an invasive species. This large rodent arrived here about 70 years ago from Argentina, for the fur industry. Luckily, this industry was quickly closed, but in the meantime, a few nutrias managed to escape from their cages in the Hula Valley. They settled down in nature and spread to the water sources and fish ponds throughout northern Israel.