PHILADELPHIA, September 24, 2019

Stunning nature and wildlife photographs that tell thought-provoking stories about our planet. Gouldian finches, live sloths and other slow-moving animals. Bizarre creatures that predated the dinosaurs. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is preparing a unique and exciting year of exhibitions for 2020.

Nestled in the heart of Philadelphia’s Parkway Museums District, the Academy is Philly’s dinosaur museum and the nation’s oldest natural history museum. In the months ahead, three new traveling exhibits will fill the galleries with exciting opportunities and engaging programs for both children and adults.

The museum’s signature exhibits include Discovering Dinosaurs, Butterflies! (a tropical garden of live butterflies), Outside In (a children’s discovery center with live animals), and historic dioramas depicting animals around the world in realistic habitats. Live animals roam the halls with their handlers on any given day and naturalist presentations are an enlightened delight to behold.

Here is the schedule of temporary exhibits for 2020. For updates, online admission discounts and a full calendar of events, visit ansp.org often.

Survival of the Slowest

Saturday, February 15–Sunday, September 20, 2020

Sometimes being slow or adept at hiding can be an animal’s best survival strategy. Survival of the Slowest explores the fascinating adaptations certain animals have evolved over millions of years in order to avoid being someone else’s lunch. Get up close to a dozen live species including a sloth, panther chameleon, Gouldian finches, iguana, green tree python, and pancake tortoise. Talk with the animal keeper and observe the animals being fed. Discover how being slow and small can be an advantage in the wild over being fast and big. This exhibit is in Spanish and English. The Academy is only its second showing in the U.S.

To download an image, visit the Press Room

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Sunday, March 29–Sunday, August 23, 2020

Wildlife Photographer of the Year harnesses the power of photography to promote the discovery, understanding and responsible enjoyment of the natural world. Organized and produced by the Natural History Museum in London, it is one of the longest running and most prestigious photography competitions in the world. The exhibit of 100 winning images features the world’s best nature photography and wildlife photojournalism. These stunning photographs tell thought-provoking stories about our planet that prompt us to think differently about the natural world and the future we want to create.

Images: A Wildlife Photographer of the Year logo is available by contacting ANS PR. A selection of photographs will be available late October.

Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs

Saturday, November 21, 2020–Sunday, May 2, 2021

What did the world look like before the dinosaurs? Step back 290 million years to when bizarre-looking creatures dominated life on land and sea, and dinosaurs had not yet evolved. Permian Monsters blends vivid artwork, amazing fossils and scientifically accurate models of moving beasts to recreate this relatively unknown period when the greatest mass extinction wiped out creatures that will never be discovered. Explore odd-looking sharks, strange reptiles with mammal-like characteristics, and the vicious predator the giant saber-toothed gorgonopsid. Play paleontologist and dig for fossil casts, enjoy interactive games and more.

To download an image, visit the Press Room