Dinos & Dragons | Fact Sheet Media Contact: Sondra Katzen Public
Dinos & Dragons | Fact Sheet
Media Contact: Sondra Katzen Public Relations 708.688.8351 [email protected]
Exhibit Dates Saturday, May 6, 2017 – Sunday, September 17, 2017
Objective To provide an entertaining and educational experience for guests of all ages to discover interesting facts about dinosaur history and learn about dragon legends through culture and literature.
Location of Exhibit Dinos & Dragons is situated in the southeast quadrant of Brookfield Zoo, between Hamill Family Wild Encounters and BZ Red Hots. The temporary summer exhibit features both outdoor and indoor experiences for zoo guests.
Outdoor Components • Animatronic Dinosaurs and Dragons – The exhibit features 17 lifelike dinosaur and dragon animatronics along an outdoor pathway landscaped with full-grown trees. As guests pass by each animatronic, a sensor signals various parts – eyes, head, arms and tail – to move. An additional animatronic dinosaur is displayed on the north side of the zoo’s Roosevelt Fountain.
Dinosaurs include: Ankylosaur Megalosaurus Triceratops Apatosaurus Pachycephalosaurus Tyrannosaurus Rex Dilophosaurus Pteranodon Utahraptor Dracorex hogwartsia (located Quetzalcoatlus at fountain) Stegosaurus
Dragons include: Chinese Dragon Gryphon Wyvern
• Colorful Graphics – Signage introduces guests to each of the animatronics that represent the inhabitants from a time gone by. From the Late Jurassic Period when the Stegosaurus roamed North America 150 million years ago to the Late Cretaceous Period of 85-75 million years ago when the Pteranodon wandered the earth, zoogoers will discover extraordinary facts about each one.
• “Game of Bones” – Parodies based on several popular game shows such as DINOPARDY, Are You Smarter Than A Paleontologist? and Dino Feud, allow zoogoers to test their dinosaur and dragon knowledge.
• Paleontologist Excavation Site – Along the trail, there will be a replica of a dig site that showcases how paleontologists uncover dinosaur specimens.
• Dinosaur Dissection Lab – Staff will engage youngsters in “dissecting” realistic-looking dinosaur body parts made of non-latex materials. Located near the exhibit’s exit, the lab is decorated with a light box of x-rays, beakers, books and a microscope.
Indoor Components • Live Reptiles – An indoor experience explores human and dragon cultural connections through hands-on activities and up-close experiences with an amazing collection of large and small lizards of “modern day dragons,” including:
Bearded Dragon Frilled Dragon Plumed Basilisk Black-throated Monitor Iguana Roughneck Monitor Crocodile Monitor Komodo Dragon Uromastyx Lizard European Legless Lizard Nile Monitor
• Dragon-themed Areas – Three dragon-themed areas (Medieval, Asian and Paleontology) have colorful and intricately designed scenery such as a fire-breathing dragon poking his head out of a castle. Engaging educational signage illustrates the mythology of dragons as well as facts on real-life “dragons.” Integrated within each of these areas are live reptiles in themed habitats for up-close viewing. o Medieval Realm – The area features the dragons of myth and lore from European literature and includes a replica castle as well as those of the Hungarian Horntail Dragon featured in the Harry Potter book series. o Asian Realm – The area explores the mystique of dragons in Asian culture and includes a full-sized Chinese Dragon costume display and the dragon tattoo station. o Paleontology Realm – The area lets kids explore what it is like to be a paleontologist by putting on goggles and using brushes to unearth replica fossils.
• Interactive Activities – Youngsters can enjoy a variety of interactive activities, including loading and releasing a catapult, putting on a puppet show complete with a castle backdrop and digging for realistic-looking dinosaur bones and other fossils.
• Kid-Friendly Stations – Temporary tattoos, a dragon texture rubbing project, and fun photo opportunities. Also there will be a dig box, presented by JULIE, Inc., where young want-to-be paleontologists can uncover dinosaur artifacts.
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