Triceratops, Brachiosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex – most of the prehistoric celebrities have already taken up their positions in the extensive parkland of Tierpark Berlin. Today they were joined by Giganotosaurus, who put in a spectacular appearance at the Tierpark’s Bärenschaufenster entrance, descending on a cable attached to a 30-metre crane. With a length of up to 13 metres, this enormous carnivore with dagger-like teeth was the biggest land predator that has ever lived, – and the new model will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the new Dinoworld exhibition at Tierpark Berlin.
Until the end of the Cretaceous period, dinosaurs were found all over the planet. But around 65 million years ago, the largest animals ever to have roamed the Earth disappeared for good. Or so we thought! Now, these prehistoric giants are experiencing a comeback in Berlin. This year, Tierpark Berlin is hosting an exhibition of around 20 life-size dinosaur models. The replicas, which weigh several tonnes, not only visually resemble their flesh-and-blood “ancestors” down to the smallest detail, they are also able to replicate their movements and sounds thanks to special animatronic technology. Alongside the moving models, information signs will tell visitors more about how the dinosaurs lived and draw surprising parallels to the animals of today. “Dinosaurs are probably the best-known example of extinct animal species, and humanity’s fascination with T. rex and its contemporaries continues to this day,” says Zoo and Tierpark Director Dr Andreas Knieriem. “Sadly, species extinction is highly topical in the present age – more than 37,000 species worldwide are currently considered to be in imminent danger of extinction. Today’s mighty beasts, like the African elephant and the black rhinoceros, could also go the way of the dinosaurs if we don’t do everything in our power to save them.”
The dinosaur exhibition will be on display at Tierpark Berlin from April to October 2023. A visit to Triceratops and friends is included in the regular Tierpark admission price. There is also a special ticket for dino fans that includes an exciting and informative dinosaur magazine alongside a Tierpark day ticket. The magazine was designed by the Tierpark team exclusively for the new exhibition and includes exciting puzzles and fascinating facts – giving dinosaur fans of all ages an even more immersive experience. Advance booking of the limited tickets has now begun at shop.tierpark-berlin.de/en.
Wanted: Germany’s biggest dino fan
To kick off the new exhibition, Tierpark Berlin is giving away a special dino family package. Dinosaur fans of all ages can submit their entry until 22 March at gewinnspiel@tierpark-berlin.de and try to convince the Tierpark team that they are the ones who deserve an exclusive sneak preview of the exhibition, including a meet & greet with American dinosaur expert Dino Don. Competition participants can get as creative as they like with their entries – a video greeting, a photo, maybe even a poem!
Background: Dinosaur exhibition
The Tierpark’s dinosaur exhibition was created in collaboration with American palaeontologist “Dino Don” Lessem, an internationally renowned writer and dinosaur expert who was hired as a scientific advisor for Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster Jurassic Park. Some of the dinosaurs that have now arrived at the Tierpark were previously on display at Zoo Leipzig. In April, even more dinosaurs will be making the journey to Berlin from the United States. Tierpark Berlin is only the second location in Germany after Zoo Leipzig to showcase Dino Don’s dinosaurs!
