A delight for curious minds 

A Close-knit Nature can be explored at each visitor’s leisure. One thing is certain... curious minds are in for a treat! This very fine exhibition explains the role keystone species¹ in the wild—including the grey wolf, the Canadian beaver, the polar bear, lemmings, woodpeckers, corals, hummingbirds and even whale carcasses—play in the fragile balance of their ecosystems. How does the beaver alter the environment in order to settle in? How are snowy owls and lemmings related? Why are coral reefs so essential to biodiversity? It's all connected! Apart from being a feast for the eyes, this exhibition appeals to all our senses as we discover the animals’ scent, sight and sound signals. Come and hear the sound of the piranha, smell the fox, or check out the knobbed hornbill and the pencil urchin. 

An outstanding natural history collection 

To mount this exhibition, the Biodôme team meticulously selected the most fascinating and educationally relevant specimens from the 5,000 or so that make up its extraordinary natural history collection. Of great heritage and scientific value, this collection allows visitors to get up close and personal with meticulously restored naturalized animals. The wandering albatross, the wolverine, the lithodid crab, the giant laughing kookaburra and many other animals can be examined in minute detail, among the other treasures unveiled in A Close-knit Nature. You can even admire a passenger pigeon. This native North American species, now extinct worldwide, was very present on our territory just over 100 years ago! 

Before exhibiting these specimens, some of which rare or of great heritage value, it was necessary to bring them up to showroom condition. To achieve this, the Biodôme relied on students from Collège Montmorency’s Techniques de Muséologie program. Their restoration work, at the crossroads of art and science, is also explained in this exhibition, which will give the public a better understanding of taxidermy and its scientific value. 

“Dive” with the whales 

The immersive Mégaceta experience then takes us to the heart of an experiment in humpback whale behaviour. Through realistic, life-size projections and an underwater atmosphere, you’ll enjoy an unprecedented view of whales, while developing a greater sensitivity to these magnificent animals. Will you fall under their spell? 

Highlights – A Close-knit Nature 

• ¹The term “keystone species” refers to species that play a crucial role in maintaining the structure and health of an ecosystem. Their presence or absence can have disproportionate effects on the ecosystem as a whole. 
• A Close-knit Nature showcases 975 specimens (80 heritage), including 521 shells, 32 tropical hummingbirds, numerous birds of prey and all the owls of Québec. 
• The new permanent exhibition incorporates eco-design practices, notably through the conservation of natural history heritage, the integration of certain elements of reused and refurbished furniture and environmentally-friendly materials, among the many strategies for mitigating the impact of an exhibition on the environment. 

The visit to A Close-knit Nature and Mégaceta are included in the Biodôme ticket. 

ACCESS INFORMATION 

Biodôme de Montréal 

4777, avenue Pierre-De Coubertin 

Reduce your GHGs. Go for public transit (Viau metro) and active transportation 

 (bike paths and Bixi stations nearby). 

About Espace pour la vie 

Protecting biodiversity and the environment is at the heart of the mission of Espace pour la vie, which is made up of the Biodôme, Biosphère, Insectarium, Jardin botanique and Planétarium de Montréal. Together, these museums located in Montréal form Canada’s largest natural science museum complex, welcoming over 2.4 million visitors each year. In view of the challenges our planet is facing, Espace pour la vie is working to increase its impact by fostering dialogue with communities and taking actions aimed at mobilizing the public behind the socio-ecological transition.