Download dinosaurs. real close.

MEDIA KIT | DINOSAURS. REAL CLOSE.
Roaring into Woodland Park Zoo April 30 – September 5, 2011
Presented by U.S. Bank and The Seattle Times
Table of Contents
Exhibit Overview
2
Dinosaur Fact Sheets:
Brachiosaurus
3
Dilophosaurus
4
Edmontosaurus
5
Euoplocephalus
6
Parasaurolophus
7
Styracosaurus
8
Tyrannosaurus rex
9
Conservation Connection: Turtles in Peril
10
“Get Real Close” Summer Activities
11
Multimedia Available
12
About Woodland Park Zoo
13
Contact
For more information, photo requests or to schedule an interview with Woodland Park Zoo staff,
please contact:
Woodland Park Zoo Public Relations
[email protected] | 206.548.2550
Gigi Allianic, Public Relations Manager
Rebecca Whitham, Public Relations Coordinator
DINOSAURS. REAL CLOSE.
Roaring into Woodland Park Zoo April 30 – September 5, 2011
Presented by U.S. Bank and The Seattle Times
Exhibit Overview
Take a journey back in time and discover life-size, animatronic creatures that roar, snarl, hiss, spit and
move with the all new “Dinosaurs. Real Close.” experience at Woodland Park Zoo April 30 through
September 5, 2011, presented by U.S. Bank and The Seattle Times.
RYAN HAWK / WOODLAND PARK ZOO
The limited-engagement, outdoor exhibit setting will evoke a primeval forest where visitors will
encounter the mighty dinosaurs, from the 19-foot-tall herbivore Brachiosaurus to a full-size, fearsome
Tyrannosaurus rex. Visitors will encounter more than 10 dinosaurs
representing seven species that once roamed North America
throughout the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods.
See the brilliant colors, scales and fins that latest scientific
research reveals may have adorned these incredible beasts.
Learn about the amazing adaptations that allowed them to
thrive for millions of years and that connect them to modern
birds today. Spy the next generation of dinosaurs with baby
Tyrannosaurus, Styracosaurus and Dilophosaurus robots, and a nest
full of Edmontosaurus peeping hatchlings. Then capture the once-in-an-eon experience with a
Tyrannosaurus rex photo opportunity that lets you pose atop the giant. Special programs, from keeper
chats to dinosaur biofact exploration, will allow visitors to dig deeper into the science of dinosaurs and
find connections to some of the living species at Woodland Park Zoo.
For the curious-minded, head to Zoomazium to get an exclusive peek at the inner workings of the
animatronic dinosaurs designed by Texas-based Billings Productions, Inc. There you can explore the
robotic wizardry beneath the shell of a dinosaur robot and even try your hand at operating it.
Though dinosaurs ruled for more than 165 million years, their well known die-off helps to shine a light
on the massive extinction crisis many species are facing today, from birds—now accepted by scientists
as modern dinosaurs—to turtles, a group that outlived dinosaurs yet today is going extinct faster than
any other vertebrate terrestrial. Visitors to the exhibit will learn about the current extinction crisis and
the ways Woodland Park Zoo is working to protect wildlife around the globe and in our own
backyard.
OPEN:
April 30, 2011—September 5, 2011 during zoo hours
LOCATION:
Adjacent to North Meadow, directly inside the West Entrance
FEE:
$3 entry fee in addition to zoo admission, free for children 2
and under; exhibit entry can be purchased at any zoo
admission gate or at the Dinosaurs exhibit. Visitors will receive
unlimited free re-entry to the exhibit for the day of purchase.
MANUFACTURER:
Billings Productions, Inc.
DINOSAUR FACT SHEET
Brachiosaurus
BRAK-ee-uh-SORE-us | Adult model is 1/2 actual size
Brachiosaurus was one of the tallest and largest dinosaurs. This 42-foot-tall vegetarian had to eat
hundreds of pounds of plants every day to thrive and weighed as much as 99,000 pounds when fully
grown. That’s as much weight as 20 African elephants!
BILLINGS PRODUCTIONS, INC.
Scientists learn a lot about dinosaurs from coprolites (fossilized dung.) Dung studies tell us what
dinosaurs ate and how much they ate. A single Brachiosaurus poop could weigh 3,000 pounds—that’s
heavier than a small car!
Quick Facts:
•
•
•
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Length
100 feet
Height
42 feet
Weight
50 tons
Period
Late Jurassic
Location
Africa, North America, Europe
Name means “arm lizard” because its forelimbs were longer than hind legs
Discovered in North America, Europe and Africa from the Jurassic period
(156-145 million years ago)
Was a quadruped and herbivore
Had a very large and powerful heart in order to pump the blood all the way up its long neck
DINOSAUR FACT SHEET
Dilophosaurus
die-LOF-o-SOR-us | Adult and juvenile models are actual size
BILLINGS PRODUCTIONS, INC.
The Greek name for these 20-foot-long carnivores from 190 million years ago is Dilophosaurus
meaning “two-crested.” The crests certainly helped them look fierce. But scientists tell us they likely
appeared scarier than their bite. Dilophosaurus teeth and jaws were too weak to bring down or hold
large prey. More likely their sharp claws and opposable thumbs would have been their main defense
and most useful tools for scavenging and fishing for food. These quick, agile carnivores lived in dry
scrub and open woodland environments.
Quick Facts:
•
•
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Length
20 feet
Weight
1,000 pounds
Period
Early Jurassic
Location
America Midwest
Discovered in N. America and possibly China from Jurassic period (201-189 million years ago)
Was a fast moving bipedal scavenger
Had long thin legs and short arms with three fingers and claws on each finger
DINOSAUR FACT SHEET
Edmontosaurus
ed-MON-tuh-SAWR-us | Adult and juvenile models are 1/2 actual size
Sixty five million years ago, these 50-foot-long, 20-foot-tall duck-billed dinosaurs already had 10 million years of parenting experience! Fossil evidence shows wobbly little hatchlings may have stayed in
their nest for nine months after coming out of their eggs. That means these massive herbivores had
to bring their hatchlings food until they were strong enough to leave the nest. By nine months they
would have been able to follow their mother like 4-foot-tall ducklings!
BILLINGS PRODUCTIONS, INC.
New evidence suggests that Edmontosaurus may have also been able to swim. When a non-swimming
Tyrannosaurus rex was stalking, safety may have been as close as the nearest river or lake.
Quick Facts:
•
•
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Length
50 feet
Weight
4 tons
Period
Cretaceous
Location
North America
The distribution of the fossil findings suggests it preferred coastal plains
Was a biped and quadruped herbivore
Edmontosaurus gets its name from a geologic formation called­ the lower Edmonton formation in
Alberta, Canada, where the first Edmontosaurus fossils were found
DINOSAUR FACT SHEET
Euoplocephalus
YOU-o-plo-SEFF-a-lus | Adult and juvenile models are actual size
BILLINGS PRODUCTIONS, INC.
The babies of these armored herbivores had little to protect them. Euoplocephalus juveniles may have
been well camouflaged and patterned to blend in with their surroundings, but they likely needed
parental protection until their armor developed. The parents by contrast were spectacularly
armored and clubbed-tailed with a mass of bony plates fused over their backs. Even their eyes had
armored shutters!
Quick Facts:
•
•
•
•
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Length
20 feet
Weight
3 tons
Period
Late Cretaceous
Location
American Northwest
Name means “well-armored head” because its head was very protected
Discovered in North America from the Cretaceous period (70-65 million years ago)
Was a quadruped herbivore with a horny, toothless beak and peg-like cheek teeth
Had bony horns on its head, large spikes along body, club-like tail, and bony plates embedded in
the skin all over the top of the body
The underbelly was only part of body not protected
DINOSAUR FACT SHEET
Parasaurolophus
PAIR-a-SORE-o-lo-fus | Actual model is 1/2 actual size
Like other hadrosaurs (duck-billed dinosaurs), Parasaurolophus had a hollow head crest that is
believed to have been used as a resonating chamber to produce a distinctive call to other members
of the herd. It may have played a role in mating and courtship.
BILLINGS PRODUCTIONS, INC.
This unique dinosaur was slow moving, four legged and—amazingly—able to stand up on its rear legs
in order to run or perhaps to browse higher branches of trees. Herds of these plant-eaters grazed
about 75 million years ago along lake shores and river banks in mixed forests.
Quick Facts:
•
•
•
•
Length
39 feet
Weight
6 tons
Period
Late Cretaceous
Location
American Northwest and Southwest
Name means “near crested lizard” because it had a long, hollow and bony crest that was about
6 feet long
Discovered in Canada, New Mexico and Utah from Cretaceous period (76-65 million years ago)
Herbivore that walked as both a biped and quadruped
Had a toothless horny beak and numerous cheek teeth
DINOSAUR FACT SHEET
Styracosaurus
Sty-RAK-uh-sawr-us | Adult and juvenile models are 3/4 actual size
BILLINGS PRODUCTIONS, INC.
Seventy-five million years ago, these herbivores would graze their way up and down the coast
through lowland forests, swamps and floodplains during migrations. They spent most of the day,
beaks to the ground, nibbling on ferns. Researchers think that if a herd were under attack they may
have surrounded their young as musk ox will do to create a defensive circle to intimidate the
predators. The appearance would be formidable since they sport the largest horn of any dinosaur,
and the neck frill would have added even more size to the fierce wall of heads.
Quick Facts:
•
•
•
Length
18 feet
Weight
3 tons
Period
Cretaceous
Location
North America
Named “spiked lizard” because of its notable horned neck frill
Was a quadrupedal herbivore
Had a beaked mouth without teeth, and a powerful body resembling that of a rhinoceros
DINOSAUR FACT SHEET
Tyrannosaurus rex
Tye-RAN-o-SORE-us | Adult and juvenile models are actual size
Little arms, big head and a massive bite—65 million years ago Tyrannosaurus was the top killing
machine. An adult was 40 feet long, weighed about 6 tons and was roughly 12 feet high at the hips.
They hunted with an acute sense of smell, 3-D vision and were powered by huge hind legs making
them very agile and just fast enough to catch their prey.
BILLINGS PRODUCTIONS, INC.
Recent molecular analysis of a tiny shred of 68-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex protein—along with
that of 21 modern animal species—confirms that dinosaurs share common ancestry with chickens,
ostriches and, to a lesser extent, alligators. So modern birds ARE dinosaurs, although we probably
wouldn’t call T. rex a chicken!
Quick Facts:
•
•
•
•
•
Length
40 feet
Weight
6 tons
Period
Late Cretaceous
Location
American Northwest
Name means “tyrant lizard king” because it was one of the largest and most powerful dinosaurs
Discovered in U.S.A., Canada and East Asia from Cretaceous period (85-65 million years ago)
Was a bipedal carnivore
Its arms were only 3 feet long with two fingers which were unusually powerful for their size.
Hind limbs were much longer and very strong
Had cone-shaped, serrated teeth that had to continually be replaced
CONSERVATION CONNECTION
Turtles in Peril
Dinosaurs may have ruled the Earth for more than 165 million years. But turtles have been around
even longer—220 million years—and survived the massive extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs.
Yet these ancient survivors are facing their own massive extinction crisis today with almost 50% of
known turtle species listed as “Threatened.” In fact, this incredibly diverse group of animals is going
extinct faster than any other group of terrestrial vertebrates. The main threats to turtles? Habitat loss
and degradation, overhunting, competition with invasive species and the illegal pet trade.
Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project
Western pond turtles were once common from Baja
California to Puget Sound, including the Columbia River
Gorge. However, loss of habitat, disease and predation by
non-native species such as bullfrogs decimated their numbers.
They were on the verge of extinction in Washington in 1990,
with only about 150 turtles left in the wild. Habitat
degradation and disease were, and still are, problems, but the
biggest threat to fragile baby turtles is the bullfrog. The state
listed western pond turtles as endangered in 1993.
RYAN HAWK/WOODLAND PARK ZOO
To turn the tide against the turtle extinction crisis, Woodland Park Zoo plays an active role in turtle
conservation—from our work around the globe with conservation partner Turtle Survival Alliance to
our Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project in our own backyard, now celebrating 20 years of
successfully head starting and reintroducing endangered turtles to protected areas throughout
Washington state.
Now in its 20th year, the Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project seeks to re-establish self-sustaining
populations in Puget Sound and the Columbia Gorge regions. To headstart these populations, the zoo
rears turtle hatchlings each year to give them a chance to grow in safety until they are large enough to
avoid predation. Then the turtles are released back into protected habitats and tracked by scientists.
Today, thanks to the success of the recovery project, researchers estimate that there are about 1,400
western pond turtles in Washington.
Make a Difference — You Can Help Save Turtles
• Reduce pollutants to turtle habitat by eliminating chemical pesticides from your gardening practices
• Improve the quality of wildlife habitat by joining a habitat restoration program in your community
• Use a reputable source when purchasing or adopting pet turtles and make sure the species is legal to
own and the animals have been sourced legally
• Take care not to release unwanted pets or animals into wild habitat—invasive species can
outcompete or prey on native turtles. Call your local animal shelter to find a new home for an
unwanted pet
• Support Woodland Park Zoo and other organizations working to conserve endangered turtles
GET REAL CLOSE—SUMMER AT THE ZOO
From the extinct to the endangered, “Get Real Close” to nature with
summer activities at Woodland Park Zoo
•
NEW: Feed browse to an elephant
bringing you closer than ever to the world’s
largest land mammal (additional fee), then
make a piece of elephant poo paper to take
home!
•
Experience the breeze of an owl’s wings at
the free-flight raptor program, then learn
how to improve habitat in your yard or
community for raptors and other animals
•
Hear fascinating animal stories at Keeper
Chats and learn how to support wildlife
conservation
•
Feel the tug of a giraffe’s 18-inch tongue at
a feeding experience (additional fee), then
take a guided safari tour of the African
Savanna
RYAN HAWK/WOODLAND PARK ZOO
The limited-engagement Dinosaurs exhibit is part of Woodland Park Zoo’s “Get Real Close” summer
experience, presented by U.S. Bank and The Seattle Times, highlighting exciting opportunities for
visitors to get close to nature and go eye-to-eye with animals, including:
For fun, engaging encounters the whole family will enjoy, there’s no place better to “Get Real Close”
than Woodland Park Zoo in summer 2011.
Get a full schedule of summer daily activities at www.zoo.org or call 206.548.2500.
DINOSAUR MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE
All dinosaur images used in this kit are available in high resolution JPEG format for press. Contact
[email protected] or 206.548.2500 with image requests.
Tyrannosaurus rex photo op
Brachiosaurus
Dilophosaurus
Edmontosaurus
Euoplocephalus
Parasaurolophus
Styracosaurus
Tyrannosaurus rex, juvenile
Tyrannosaurus rex
All dinosaur photos shown above (and available for download in the media kit CD) are credited to
“Billings Productions, Inc.”
Additional photos and video will become available after May 1, 2011.
For latest multimedia, follow the zoo’s blog at http://woodlandparkzblog.blogspot.com
ABOUT WOODLAND PARK ZOO
Woodland Park Zoo saves animals and their habitats through conservation leadership and engaging experiences
inspiring people to learn, care and act. For 110 years, Woodland Park Zoo has served as an urban oasis, gathering
generations of people together to enjoy the natural world. The zoo spans 92 acres, 65 of which are developed as
exhibits and public spaces. The remainder is devoted to administrative offices, a buffer zone and a neighborhood park.
Hours: October 1 - April 30: 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. May 1 - September 30: 9:30
a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Woodland Park Zoo is open every day except Christmas
Day. Fees: October 1 - April 30: Adult (13-64) $11.50; Child (3-12) $8.50;
Toddler (0-2) Free. May 1 - September 30: Adult (13-64) $17.50; Child (3-12)
$11.50; Toddler (0-2) Free. Seniors and people with physical disabilities receive a $2 discount and zoo members receive free zoo admission year-round.
Parking: $5.25.
Collection
BRIAN TYL
Hours and Fees
Animal care professionals at Woodland Park Zoo are experts in their field and provide the highest quality care for
animals every day. The zoo manages the largest live animal collection in Washington state, with 1,000 animals,
representing more than 300 species plus 68 species of invertebrates. The zoo provides a home for 35 endangered and
five threatened animal species. The zoo’s botanical collection includes more than 92,000 plants and trees
representing more than 1,000 species.
Field Conservation
Through funding provided by the zoo’s Partners for Wildlife, Conservation Dues, Jaguar Conservation Fund, and the
contributions of zoo members and donors, the zoo is supporting conservation of wildlife, preserving fragile habitats,
and increasing public awareness for wildlife and environmental issues. The zoo currently partners with 36 field
conservation projects taking place in more than 50 countries around the world. These include some of the smallest
life forms – the endangered Oregon silverspot butterfly – to the largest mammals on land – the African elephant.
Education
As the Washington hub for excellence in conservation education, the zoo’s programs are grounded in an outcomesbased framework focusing on connecting children to nature, developing ecological literacy and providing pathways to
conservation. From early learners to senior learners, and on and off grounds, the zoo’s developmental approach to
lifelong learning is to foster empathy for nature, build conservation knowledge and skills, and increase people’s
personal ownership for action that benefits wildlife and habitats. In 2010, more than 740,000 visitors participated in
the zoo’s public programs and nearly 83,000 students, teachers and chaperones visited the zoo in school groups or
received a zoo outreach program.
Award-winning Exhibits
Woodland Park Zoo is famed for creating revolutionary naturalistic exhibits that began a shift that changed the face of
zoos worldwide. The Association of Zoos & Aquariums has honored the zoo with six major exhibit awards:
Humboldt penguin, Jaguar Cove, Trail of Vines, Northern Trail, Tropical Rain Forest, Elephant Forest
and African Savanna.