Fernbank exhibit highlights slowness in the animal kingdom

ATLANTA - Most of us live life in the fast lane or, at least, we try to. But remember: sometimes "slow and steady" wins the race. And a new exhibit here in Atlanta proves taking your time can often be the smartest way to survive.

This morning on Good Day Atlanta, we took a leisurely stroll through "Survival of the Slowest," the newest exhibit inside Atlanta’s Fernbank Museum. Opening to the public Saturday and remaining on display through early September, the exhibit highlights animals that don’t always get the lion’s share of attention — species often considered slower and weaker, but that actually have unique adaptations to help them thrive in the wild.

And you can’t really have an exhibit about animals without actual animals, so "Survival of the Slowest" features more than a dozen of them, including a two-toed sloth, bearded dragon, and hedgehog. We’re told by exhibit designers (Little Ray’s Nature Centres, in partnership with the Canadian Museum of Nature) that most of the animals featured are rescues which cannot be released back into the wild, and that they’re regularly rotated to allow for "quiet time" out of the public eye.

Admission to the new exhibit is included with the cost of entry to the museum, which is $25.95 for adults, 24.95 for seniors (65 and over), and $23.95 for children ages 3 to 12. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m to 5 p.m., and it’s located at 767 Clifton Road Northeast in Atlanta.