  The systematic mapping of obscured and optically invisible galaxies behind
the Milky Way through complementary surveys are important in arriving at the
whole-sky distribution of complete galaxy samples and therewith for our
understanding of the dynamics in the local Universe. In this paper, a status
report is given of the various deep optical, near infrared (NIR), and
systematic blind \HI-surveys in the Zone of Avoidance, including a discussion
on the limitations and selection effects inherent to the different
multi-wavelength surveys and first results.
