«Beware of the city!»

At the exhibition, visitors will face many important questions. Do we need animals and plants in the city? How can we define the boundaries of our interests? Is it possible to create a city where both animals and people are comfortable?

Even though cities are designed for us - people, even we might have trouble living here. And speaking of animals and plants, there is practically no place for them in the metropolis.

While some animals rapidly disappear from cities, others change their food preferences, behavior, and even appearance, becoming successful urban residents, and significantly increasing their populations. Though people aren't always happy to have such neighborhoods.

At the exhibition, visitors will learn how the city transforms natural communities — forests and meadows, and creates new opportunities for the successful existence of individual species.

Large animals like elks and wild boars still inhabit Moscow, although it can be dangerous for a person to meet them. Hundreds of bird species use city parks for nesting. Some of them also have begun to nest in urban structures. Blue tits build nests in concrete pillars, pigeons - in attics and balconies, sparrows - in pipes and niches of houses.

In winter, non-migratory birds need supplementary feeding and often move to the city. In that case, citizens become responsible for the correct choice of treats. The museum's specialists will show which birds are the most commonly seen at the feeder and help you choose food for them. Guests of the museum will see artificial bird nests from the collection of the Darwin Museum. They will also get a chance to look at the houses for wintering bats, which are also permanent residents of the city.

For many years there has been an intense controversy over whether or not the lawns should be mowed and cleaned from fallen leaves. At the exhibition, you will learn about the plant and animal composition of meadow communities, the peculiarities of their existence in the city, and the variety of ecological relationships. Our practical tips will help you decide on urban greening activities in your neighborhood. The "Protected Meadow" next to the Darwin Museum is a great example of the implemented initiative on preserving the meadow community. More information about this project is available at the exhibition.

Hardly anyone can stay indifferent to the problem of stray animals. The list of stray animals includes not only cats and dogs but also ferrets, hamsters, fancy rats, and turtles. The key to regulating the number of stray animals lies in the responsibility towards our pets. Visitors will learn why feeding stray cats and dogs is not the best idea and how they can help solve this problem.

Urban waste is another hot topic featured at the exhibition. Oddly enough, waste is not only evil but also good for animals. Animals and birds often feed on landfills, and everyone has met with annoying sparrows in street cafes at least once in their life. Interestingly, animal behavior in the city forces people to change the usual household structures and objects. For example, a trash container that would provide reliable protection from raccoons had been developed and tested in Canada for several months. However, when the new trash containers appeared on the streets of the city, the animals had no trouble cracking them open. Another example is when McDonald's had to change the shape of McFlurry ice cream cups because of pressure from animal rights activists. Before that, the hole in the lid was so large that hedgehogs could get their heads into it to lick the remains of ice cream. After that, they got stuck and died starving.

At the exhibition «Beware of the city!» every visitor will be able to look at the familiar environment from an unusual angle to take a step towards an urban space where both animals and people are comfortable.

Актуальные мероприятия