Members of the media are invited to tour the new exhibit

Thursday, May 23; 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Media Arrival: 10 a.m.



Bronx, NY – May 21, 2013 – The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is inviting media to preview this summer’s newest attraction – Dinosaur Safari – on Thursday, May 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

There will be two special tours for media with departures at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m.

The exhibit opens to the public until Saturday, May 25.

The ride runs through a two-acre area of the zoo and highlights some of the similar physical and behavioral adaptations many prehistoric species share with modern-day wildlife. A guide helps identify the dinosaurs and explains how animals at the Bronx Zoo use similar adaptations to survive in the wild.

Dinosaur Safari begins with the Permian period which began about 300 million years ago and concludes with the Cretaceous period which ended 65 million years ago.

Each dinosaur encountered moves and vocalizes. At the end of the experience, there is a fossil dig for children; a Tyrannosaurus rex photo-op; a paleontologist’s tent where fossil replicas will be on display; and an interactive Stegosaurus that shows how the dinosaur animatronics work.

Featured dinosaur species include favorites like a 40-foot long Tyrannosaurus rex, a species that was an apex predator much like the lions on the zoo’s African Plains today; and Brachiosaurus, a herbivore that used its long neck to feed from tree tops like a giraffe. Other lesser-known dinosaur species on the safari include Pachycephalosaurus, a dinosaur that may have used its thick skull to battle for territory and females in a manner similar to the American bison; and Coelophysis, small by dinosaur standards, but an effective pack hunter like spotted hyenas.

The entire safari route includes plants, shrubs and trees that help illustrate the periods of time when these animals lived. Some of the greenery includes monkey puzzle and gingko trees and cycads that date back 300 million years to the Permian period. Ferns begin to show up in the Jurassic period, and the magnolias, palms, and laurel are well represented in the section of the safari that illustrates the Cretacious period.

Photo and interview opportunities will be available.

Who:
Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo

What:
Media Preview: Dinosaur Safari

Where:
WCS’s Bronx Zoo
2300 Southern Blvd
Bronx, NY

When:
Thursday, May 23; 10:30 a.m. to 12: p.m.
Media arrival: 10:00 a.m.
Tour departures at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m.

Editor’s note: Members of the media who wish to attend, please RSVP to Max Pulsinelli at mpulsinelli@wcs.org or 718-220-5182. Media should arrive no later than 10:00 a.m. at the Southern Blvd. entrance.

Dinosaur Safari is made possible by the generosity of these corporate partners:

FEATURED SPONSORS
YoYo.com; Bookworm.com; AfterSchool.com; Look.com

OFFICIAL VEHICLE
Schultz Ford/Lincoln – Rockland’s Auto Super Center

PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS
Bright Horizons; Coleman; Happy Family; OshKosh B’gosh

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Applebee’s; Babies R Us; Carvel; Toys R Us

CONTACT:
Max Pulsinelli - 718-220-5182; mpulsinelli@wcs.org
Steve Fairchild – 718-220-5189; sfairchild@wcs.org

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Adult admission is $16, children (3-12 years old) $12, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $14. Parking is $13 for cars and $16 for buses. The Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.) To plan your trip, visit www.bronxzoo.com or call 718-367-1010.