Reptiles Alive! features 20 live reptiles from every corner of the planet, taking visitors on a world tour through deserts, oceans, and the tropics. The exhibition highlights the diverse adaptations that allow reptiles to thrive in a multitude of environments. It also features reptiles of the Midwest, shedding light on the snakes, turtles, and lizards found in our own backyards.

This family-friendly exhibition showcases a scaly crew of reptiles on loan from Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland, an AZA-accredited zoo in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, including a giant, 14-foot reticulated python and a charismatic Cuban rock iguana. In addition to live animals, mechanical interactives and models show visitors how reptiles move, find food, and escape predators.

The exhibition highlights the impact of human encroachment on reptile habitats, like golf course construction on the home of American alligators. A video projection takes visitors on a trip around forest preserves outside of Chicago with Ruane as she searches for snakes and turtles, collecting DNA to better understand genetic diversity and inform conservation management programs.

Time: During regular hours

Cost: Admission plus $8-10 exhibit ticket

Ages: All ages