Bristol Zoo’s new dinosaurs are unveiled - 25/05/12
Prehistoric creatures have been brought to life at Bristol Zoo Gardens from today as it officially unveils its summer exhibition – DinoZoo.
A giant tyrannosaurus rex, triceratops and the long-necked brachiosaurus are among the 12 impressive dinosaurs which have taken up residence alongside the Zoo’s 400 animal species, for a summer exhibition which opens to the public today (Friday May 25, 2012).
The dinosaurs arrived at the Zoo last week and have now been brought to life using mechanical technology, hydraulics and animatronics.
DinoZoo gives Zoo guests the chance to get up-close to amazing, moving, roaring, hissing, growling and even water-spraying creatures they’ve only read about in books or seen in films.
This unique exhibition even offers budding young palaeontologists the chance to embark on their own mini fossil dig and find out about Bristol’s own dinosaur – Thecodontosaurus.
Dr Bryan Carroll director of Bristol Zoo, said: “It’s fantastic that the dinosaurs are finally here, it is amazing to see them close-up in all their glory – they are quite a spectacle. We are sure that DinoZoo will be a fantastically popular new attraction that will take our guests on a journey that started over 200 million years ago.”
He added: “As well as being fantastic fun, this exhibition also presents a great opportunity to tell our guests about the very real extinction threat facing many species in the Zoo and around the world.”
DinoZoo is now open every day until Sunday September 2, 2012, and is free with Zoo admission.
To see a video of the dinosaurs arriving at the Zoo, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcFZXSntL-s&feature=youtu.be
In celebration of its new prehistoric residents, Bristol Zoo will be holding an open-air showing of the popular film, Jurassic Park, in the ground of the Zoo on August 18th. Guests will be able to enjoy the film while surrounded by the Zoo’s prehistoric residents! For tickets and information, visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk/whats-on.
Bristol Zoo is also selling dinosaur-related toys and gifts in its shop, and has even re-named one of its food outlets the ‘Snackosaurus’.
Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on the support of its guests to fund its animal conservation work in the zoo and with endangered species around the world, which help save wildlife from going the same way as the dinosaurs - extinct.
To find out more about DinoZoo at Bristol Zoo, visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk/dinozoo or phone 0117 974 7300.
ENDS
Dinosaurs at Bristol Zoo
- Tyranosaurus rex
- Brachiosaurus
- Triceratops
- Edmontosaurus (& nest and babies)
- Amargasaurus & baby
- Dilophosaurus
- Allosaurus
- Coelophysis
- Ornithomimus
- Baryonyx
- Dimetrodon
- Thecodontosaurus ‘the Bristol dinosaur’ – please note this is not an animatronic model but an interactive learning exhibit
Bristol Zoo Gardens
- Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day.
- Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on income from visitors and supporters to continue its important work.
- Bristol Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species.
- Itemploys over 150 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work.
- Bristol Zoo supports – through finance and skill sharing - 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
- In 2011 Bristol Zoo celebrated its 175th birthday. Over that past 175 years, the Zoo has brought six generations of Bristolians closer to wildlife, helped save over 175 species from extinction, established over 30 field conservation and research programmes all over the world, showed 40 millionschool-aged children the wonder of nature and given more than 90 million visitors a wonderful day out.
- In 2010 Bristol Zoo Gardens set up a Conservation Fund to raise vital funds to help care for threatened animals and plants – both in the Zoo and through the conservation work we do in the UK and around the world.
- Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.
