Ours polaire

Awesome!

Temporary exhibition

From 19 February 2025 to 31 December 2025

But how do these amazing animals manage to live in the desert, high up in the mountains or in the freezing cold?

Camels can stay without eating for several weeks thanks to those strange humps on their backs, lamas can put up with the lack of oxygen up there, and emperor penguins can withstand temperatures of -60°C. But how are some animal species able to live in the desert, high up in the mountains or in the freezing cold?

The exhibition is designed for children between 8 and 12 years old, providing them with an opportunity to satisfy their curiosity and understand the adaptation and acclimation mechanisms that explain these amazing abilities. And we humans can certainly draw inspiration from them…

The exhibition route

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Arid environments: resisting heat and lack of water

Près d’un tiers des terres émergées sont considérées comme arides. Malgré la rareté de l’eau et des chaleurs extrêmes, certaines espèces parviennent à habiter ces environnements hostiles. Elles peuvent capter et retenir l’humidité, réguler leur température corporelle et minimiser la perte d’eauAlmost a third of the world’s landmasses are regarded as arid. Despite the scarcity of water and extreme heat, various species manage to live in these hostile environments. They can capture and retain moisture, regulate their body temperature and minimise water loss.

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Exposition Trop forts !
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High-altitude environments: resisting lack of oxygen and the cold

In the mountains, the higher the altitude, the lower the temperature and the less oxygen there is, making breathing increasingly difficult. Only acclimated species that have adapted to such environments can live in them. Some have thick, insulating fur; others are better able to capture oxygen or possess larger respiratory organs.

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Exposition Trop forts !
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Glacial environments: resisting cold and lack of food

Despite freezing temperatures and lack of food, a wide range of animal species live in these hostile environments. Some have thick layers of protective fat; others have thick fur or plumage that retains heat.

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Exposition Trop forts !
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Champions of resistance

In such extremely hostile environments, certain species can resist everything, or almost (space vacuum, radiation, poisons, etc.), or can even go on living without their heads. Whether these species live in still mysterious environments or sometimes in our own homes, their abilities are a source of inspiration for scientists.

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Exposition Trop forts !