SURVIVAL OF THE SLOWEST AT FERNBANK
Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 6/26/23
“Survival of the Slowest” Exhibit Opens at Fernbank on June 10, 2023,
Featuring a Variety of Live Animals that Demonstrate Unique Adaptations
Sometimes Being Slow, Small or Weak Can Have its Advantages
This summer, Atlanta’s Fernbank Museum welcomes a live animal exhibit that explores some of nature’s often-overlooked, slow, small or weak species and how they have used their perceived disadvantages to help them survive in a world where the large, strong and fast are usually at the top of the food chain. In partnership with Little Ray’s Nature Centres, “Survival of the Slowest” is on view at Fernbank from June 10—Sept. 4, 2023.
“Survival of the Slowest” offers an educational look at the survival strategies of a variety of animals. Guests are invited to explore the similarities and differences in species’ traits and how these attributes impact their survival strategy in order to answer common questions, including ‘How can slow and steady win the race?’ and ‘Does bigger always mean better?’ Some featured live animals in “Survival of the Slowest” include a two-toed sloth, boa constrictor, green iguana, hedgehog, bearded dragon and more.
“Little Ray’s Nature Centres is excited to bring Survival of the Slowest to Fernbank. We invite Atlantans of all ages to get to know our animal ambassadors and all the surprisingly slow ways they survive in our fast-paced world,” notes Emmi Saunders, Executive Director of Little Ray’s Nature Centres, “Our interactive exhibits will leave lasting impressions and encounters with our wildlife educators will help spark visitors’ curiosity about our natural world.”
This exhibit focuses on important biological concepts and how real-world survival for animals depends on individual traits. Some of these characteristics that help animals survive include a sloth’s nocturnal nature enabling them to avoid their main predator, the Harpy Eagle, who is a daytime predator. Additional examples include an iguana’s ability to run quickly, which assists them in escaping from predators and a python’s “sit-and-wait” predatorial style, which allows it to conserve energy after venomously killing their prey.
“This exciting new exhibit allows visitors to come face-to-face with some of nature’s most ‘counterintuitively’ biologically fit creatures and explore the amazing adaptations that help them survive and thrive,” notes Fernbank educator and volunteer manager, Miranda Shealy.
“Survival of the Slowest” offers daily live animal presentations with wildlife educators and animal care staff on hand to not only educate and ‘wow’ audiences, but also to engage with guests in an interactive approach that helps form personal connections with wildlife.
RELATED PROGRAMMING
Fernbank will celebrate the opening of “Survival of the Slowest” with a special family friendly Discovery Day on June 10 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. that will feature a range of crafts and activities relating to the unique animals in “Survival of the Slowest.”
“Survival of the Slowest” was designed and offered by Little Ray’s Nature Centres in collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Nature.
“Survival of the Slowest” is sponsored by Isdell Family Foundation
Additional support provided by the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation.
TICKETS
Exhibits, films and Discovery Days are included with daytime general admission and with CityPASS. General admission tickets include three floors of exhibits in the natural history museum, choice of one giant screen film, and 75 acres of nature explorations in Fernbank Forest and WildWoods. Fernbank After Dark and some other special after-hours events are available at a separate ticket price. Fernbank is located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta, minutes from midtown Atlanta and downtown Decatur.
For more information, visit FernbankMuseum.org. General admission tickets are $25.95 for adults, $24.95 for seniors, $23.95 for children ages 3-12, free for children ages 2 and younger, and free for Fernbank Members. These prices are for tickets purchased online at
