Wild Planet

Name: Wild Planet
Start: 2021-07-06T10:00:00+10:00
End: 2026-04-23T19:15:44.583064
Location: Australian Museum

Come and see life on earth in all its glorious diversity – over 400 animals under one roof!

Dinosaur Festival 2022 (April School Holidays)

In Wild Planet you will come face to face with nature’s giants: an elephant, a rhinosceros, a giraffe, a lion, a tiger and a bear. Marvel at a Sperm Whale skeleton, and see the largest bird and moth on Earth. Meet a dung beetle and a pangolin, and learn how an aardvark is like an elephant. Encounter the fossil ancestors of Earth’s living species, like the trilobite and the ammonite, and wonder at living fossils like the horseshoe crab and lungfish. You will also see extinct species like the Thylacine, and learn why preserving biodiversity is so important.

In Wild Planet there’s more to do than look. Learn how the Museum is helping to preserve Australia’s biodiversity, and explore the tree of life in our fascinating interactive.

Can you find your place on the tree of life?

General Admission

Exhibition highlights

The Tree of Life

Explore the Earth's biological diversity and trace the evolutionary history for all known species through the The Tree of Life. While it looks complex, the Tree of Life is simply a diagram showing the evolutionary relationships (or phylogeny) of all life forms – including bacteria, archaea, fungi, plants and animals.

Tiger king

As the king of the jungle, tigers are the largest living cats in the world and one of the most beautiful yet ferocious animals. Just like fingerprints, the pattern of a tiger's stripes is unique to each animal. Sadly, as a result of illegal poaching and habitat loss, tigers are critically endangered in some parts of the world posing a risk to the health and diversity of ecosystems.

Bear in mind

Meet some of nature's greatest beasts! Bears are mammals that belong to the Ursidae family and can live across North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Due to continued human exploitation, forest degradation and habitat loss, many bear populations have been on the decline. A new, significant challenge for bear conservation relates to the effects of climate change and melting Arctic sea ice.

North African Crested Porcupine

Don't be fooled by it's loveable face, the North African Crested Porcupine have been known to injure lions and leopards! This prickly and sturdy porcupine is the covered in bristly hairs, sharp spines and long black and white banded quills which can be raised to form a crest making for a highly effective armour against predators.

Related information

Wild Planet: Audio Tour

Listen to this self-guided audio tour of our Wild Planet exhibition to learn more about the extraordinary animal specimens on display as well as the importance of preserving Australia's biodiversity.

Exhibition highlights

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Animal factsheets

Discover the astonishing variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, marine life and more in the Australian Museum collections.

Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Extinct animals

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What's on at the Australian Museum

Discover our exciting offer of permanent and special exhibitions to visit at the Australian Museum, as well as upcoming events including talks, workshops and First Nations cultural programs.

Event calendar

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Visit & Book

Experience science, culture and nature in the heart of Sydney at the Australian Museum. Visit today with free General Admission!

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The Australian Museum is COVID Safe

To help keep our staff, visitors and community safe, the AM has COVID-19 protocols in place, including physical distancing, increased cleaning and hygiene practices. Facemasks are encouraged.

View our full COVID-19 safety information here.