FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT:
Madeline Anderson
414-278-2784
andersonm@mpm.edu
LIVE-ANIMAL EXHIBITION SURVIVAL OF THE SLOWEST EXPLORES COUNTERINTUITIVE EVOLUTIONARY TRAITS
LIMITED ENGAGEMENT OPEN TO PUBLIC FEBRUARY 11 - MAY 19, 2023
MILWAUKEE — Keep calm and slow down. That’s the mantra for Milwaukee Public Museum’s (MPM) newest special exhibition, Survival of the Slowest, where visitors will meet live animals—such as a hedgehog, box turtle and the ambassador of Survival, a two-toed sloth named Sash—and learn about the fascinating ways these slow, small or timid species have used their perceived evolutionary weaknesses to their advantage in an animal kingdom that typically favors the fast, fierce and mighty.
“Survival of the Slowest exposes visitors to wildlife they may otherwise never get to see in person, deepening their understanding of and appreciation for these creatures, their environments and their wellbeing,” said MPM President & CEO Dr. Ellen Censky. “In addition, visitors will learn the biological significance behind different survival strategies, which are scientific concepts that are also explored throughout the Museum’s permanent exhibits and are part of behind-the-scenes research going on here every day."
A total of 19 habitats are set up throughout the exhibit with approximately two dozen critters. Wildlife educators will also be on hand to engage with visitors for both impromptu and scheduled demonstrations with the animals.
“These demonstrations may involve opportunities for visitors to safely touch the animals, as well as presentations where visitors can observe the wildlife educator feeding the animals or pointing out certain characteristics,” said Jon Bertolas, MPM’s onsite curator for Survival of the Slowest. “There’s so much people can learn by being able to ask the experts questions about what they’re seeing in the moment.”
The exhibition is produced by Little Ray’s Nature Centres, the largest exotic animal rescue in Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Nature. The majority of the animals are rescues that have either been seized by the government or surrendered by their owners because they could not be properly cared for. Each animal is closely evaluated and monitored by trained staff, and those on display are regularly rotated so that they get plenty of quiet time to relax.
Survival of the Slowest is open during regular MPM hours—Wednesday through Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.—and is included in Museum general admission. On March 2, April 6 and May 4, admission to Survival of the Slowest is only $6 as part of Kohl's Thank You Thursday.
This special exhibition is made possible by The Karen J. Glanert Charitable Trust.
About the Milwaukee Public Museum
The Milwaukee Public Museum is Wisconsin’s natural history museum, welcoming over half a million visitors annually. Located in downtown Milwaukee, the Museum was chartered in 1882, opened to the public in 1884, and currently houses more than 4 million objects in its collections. MPM has three floors of exhibits that encompass life-size dioramas, walk-through villages, world cultures, dinosaurs, a rainforest, and a live butterfly garden, as well as the Daniel M. Soref Dome Theater & Planetarium. MPM is operated by Milwaukee Public Museum, Inc., a private, non-profit company, and its facilities and collections are held in trust and supported by Milwaukee County for the benefit of the public.
###