Museum of Idaho opening rainforest exhibit with live animals

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Museum of Idaho's next special exhibit, Under the Canopy: Animals of the Rainforest, opens to the public on Saturday, October 7.

This exhibit is particularly notable for its inclusion of around 20 live animals – a first for an MOI exhibit.

Under the Canopy focuses on the world’s rainforests and the vital roles they play in our global ecosystem. Many of the most charismatic stars of the actual rainforest are the stars of the exhibit as well, including a Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth named Romeo, and more than a dozen unique species of reptiles and amphibians.

“I’m delighted to host Under the Canopy to share the rainforest ecology and the importance of protecting it, but honestly, the immersive introduction to live creatures of the region is what really excites me,” MOI Director of Exhibitions Rod Hansen said.

The exhibit is produced by Canada-based Little Ray’s Nature Centres, North America’s largest exotic animal rescue, which is accredited by Canada’s Association of Zoos and Aquariums for its strict code of ethics and high international standard of animal care.

"It's very unique exhibit on based really on the rainforest. Thematically, it's a little bit about stewardship," Hansen said. "The world is becoming a much smaller place, and so much of what we do here in Idaho affects the rest of the world. And what the rest of the world does affects us. And it's just a reminder of that."

Certified animal handlers from Little Ray’s will be on hand throughout the entire run of the exhibit to care for the animals and to help members of the public interact with them safely. Employees from the Idaho Falls Zoo, a similarly accredited institution, are also offering support. Alex LeClerc, Exhibits Manager at Little Rays, says that visiting the exhibit gives locals an opportunity to see creatures that aren't typically in North America.

"A lot of them are unique creatures from rainforest areas, which is far away from Idaho," LeClerc said. "So what's interesting about them is that they're animals that, you know, most people in Idaho wouldn't see day to day."

"The Idaho Falls Zoo has been just wonderful to work with," MOI Executive Director Jeff Carr said. "When we told them we were considering an exhibit with live animals, they immediately said yes, and ‘how can we help?’ It’s wonderful to have local institutions so willing to support each other for the benefit of the whole community.”

Carr added the partnership between the Idaho Falls Zoo and the Museum of Idaho allows for visitors to be more educated to make the world a better place.

"And so here at the Museum of Idaho, as well as at the Idaho Falls Zoo and other local institutions, we do a great deal of education about how to better take care of our world and how to learn more about it," Carr said. "And we really believe that education is the first step toward toward changing the world for the better."

Visitors can interact with these exotic creatures in numerous ways, beyond just viewing them in their enclosures. Each day, animal handlers will give 30-minute presentations discussing and showcasing several of the animals, starting at 11am, 2pm, and 4pm on Mondays through Saturdays, and at 2pm and 4pm on Sundays. Between the presentations, handlers will also offer “impromptu encounters” with different animals, taking them out of their enclosures one at a time to help visitors get closer looks.

Those experiences are all included with the regular cost of admission to the museum. In addition, the museum is offering VIP encounters, wherein guests can pay for the opportunity to accompany an animal handler for 20-30 minutes, including going fully inside Romeo’s enclosure and using tongs to help feed him – if he’s hungry. As MOI and Little Ray’s work to ensure that all encounters are consistent with the animals’ best interests, these VIP opportunities are only offered four times per week, by appointment.

Groups and companies that book private after-hours events at the museum will be offered similar opportunities.

“One of the best parts of the museum is the frequent opportunity to bring something totally new to East Idaho with each new program and exhibit," Carr said. "And this exhibit goes beyond most in terms of newness. We’ve never had live animals as part of an exhibit, but you can’t talk about the rainforest – our most diverse ecosystem – without them.”

The Museum of Idaho is open seven days per week. Admission is $14 for adults, $13 for seniors, and $12 for youth, and Idaho residents receive a $2/person discount. Participants in the Idaho SNAP program get in for only $1/person.