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SEXY – The Driving Force of Life

Exhibitions
Hirsche im Kampf
Straussenkinder wachsen in einer Kita auf: mehrere Elternpaare bebrüten die Eier in einem Gemeinschaftsnest und ziehen die Jungen zusammen auf. Afrikanischer Strauss, Jungvogel, Naturkundliche Sammlung Liechtenstein. (c) Tristesse
The animal kingdom is vibrant and diverse. Animals have all kinds of weapons to help them win the object of their desire, along with a wealth of different behaviour patterns, pairings and family models. But why? Because of the sexes. The different interests of the sexes are what drives evolution.
In our upcoming special exhibition, we show you the role sex plays in reproduction. You will discover that some animals have two sexes, while some have none and others have several. There are animals that can change their sex and animals that can have two sexes at the same time. But they all have one thing in common: they want to reproduce.

With astonishing stories, impressive specimens, and interactive elements, we show the lengths animals will go to to breed. They turn on the charm with their best displays and most splendid plumage. In the survival of the fittest, animals fearlessly fight off the competition with the ultimate aim of becoming attentive parents who watch over their young. But there isn’t a clear pattern to their roles: The animal kingdom is ahead of its time and has always had different family models.

This exhibition is exciting for kids and adults. While we grown-ups can marvel at the many different types of pairing and the desires and frustrations of animals’ mating rituals, kids can find out how it feels to grow up protected by a womb, pouch or even ice. We use a variety of young animal specimens to show how they started life and who smoothed their pathway to adulthood.

This exhibition is based on objects and the basic idea of the special exhibition “Sexperten” by Liechtenstein National Museum and Liechtenstein Office for the Environment.
This exhibition is available in
German
French
English

Museum details

Address
Augustinergasse 2
4051
Basel
+41 61 266 55 00
Opening hours

47.557665, 7.590404

(c) Sabrina Stäubli
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Family Sunday

Family Sunday at the museum leaves nothing to be desired. We offer a colorful family program that whets the appetite for natural science. With the participation of children and young people from our ...

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(c) Nicole Pont
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AFTER HOURS - Chilling at the Museum

Once a month, the special exhibition "SEXY - the mainspring of life" is open until late at night, with a museum bar and DJ. Admission free, drinks extra.

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Leistenkrokodil, Jungtier (c) Tristesse
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FOCUS GUIDE: SEXY - THE MAINSPRING OF LIFE

On this focus tour, a special guest will take you on a tour of our special exhibition "SEXY - The Driving Force of Life". In doing so, we focus on a specific topic. Whether it's about courtship ...

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Waschbär, Jungtier (c) Tristesse
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Family tour "SEXY - the mainspring of life

On an interactive tour through the special exhibition, we will show you with amazing stories, impressive specimens and interactive elements that animals spare no effort to bring offspring into the ...

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Waschbär, Jungtier (c) Tristesse
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Guided tour in English: SEXY – DRIVING FORCE OF LIFE

During our guided tour through the special exhibition SEXY – DRIVING FORCE OF LIFE, we show you the role sex plays in reproduction. You will discover that some animals have two sexes, while some have ...

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We make museums

As part of Zukunft Inklusion, we are celebrating disability rights in 2024. We are the people of Sonnhalde Gempen and the Natural History Museum Basel. Together we are opening our museum for a day ...

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Afrikanischer Strauss, Jungvogel (c)Tristesse
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Sunday tour: "SEXY - mainspring of life".

On a guided tour through the special exhibition, we will show you the role that sex plays in reproduction. It shows that some animals have two sexes, others none or several. There are animals that ...

Event