The fund, which is still in existence, was used to enlarge the building of the Department of Zoology and to extend the small museum which, after Sir John's death in 1973, was expanded and the name changed to The John R. Ellerman Museum of Zoology. Lady Ellerman and the Trustees of the Moorgate Trust Fund, London, made funds available to provide for a curator and to develop the Museum. The Board of Trustees handles the management of the funds. The department house collections of small mammals, herpetology, histology and a teaching collection of animal diversity. It is important that exhibitions and research go side by side.
Science gives authority to the exhibitions and they provide a shop window for the science.
Research performed by the museum scientist focus on making people more aware of animals and the interaction between man and his natural environment. Current research in progress investigates the ecotourism potential of herpetofauna in Namaqualand and the Western Cape.