In the late 19th century, two groups of Aboriginal people were taken from Queensland, Australia, to become living science exhibits and freakshow curiosities for the entertainment of crowds throughout the United States and Europe.

The two groups of Murri adults and children were taken from Ingham and Palm Island in 1884 and 1894.

At the time, violence towards Indigenous people was rife, with whole tribes being forcibly removed from traditional lands and taken to church-run communities where they became indentured slaves.

The people who left to join human zoos were lured away with the promise of escaping the violence and poverty of Queensland – only to be treated like animals in other countries.

Only three would return. The rest died abroad, mostly from common colds or the flu.

