I did a review of the Dinosaur exhibition at Chester Zoo last year, so here is one for the 2012 exhibition, 'Dinosaurs Bite Back'
The dinosaur exhibition (as last year) is entered via an archway at the north end of Islands in Danger. The first thing one sees is a slush cart on the right which is populr with children I expect, but not all that common in the Triassic/Jurassic/Cretaceous eras. A good view of lemur island can be obtained if you look to the left. I did not see any lemurs on my visit.
Just like the 2011 exhibition the first dinosaur is a baby. Stegosaurus (roof lizard) this time. The young one lies half hidden in the vegetation and it's mum can be seen on the left hand side of the path, just before the right angled bend to the right. Misters lie each side of the path making for a 'foggy' atmosphere. This feature is used several times in the exhibition.
A sign to the left of the path warns visitors to 'beware of the spitting dinosaur', a Dilophosaurus (double-crested lizard). I managed to get soaked. Opposite the adult Dilophosaurus is the northern end of the Komodo dragon enclosure and an educational sign explains the relationship between modern Komodo dragons and dinosaurs.
A baby Dilophosaurus is next, and it also spits, and yes, I got soaked again! Dilophosaurus was originally thought to be a Megalosaurus (great lizard) which is the next exhibit over the narrow bridge. More misters create fog in this area, previously home to one of Chester's many rose gardens.
Beyond Megalosaurus a great view of the flamingos can be enjoyed. A sign, 'What's the difference between flamingos and a dinosaur? Not a lot,' explains the relationship between flamingos and dinosaurs.
Styracosaurus (spiked lizard) is next, a female overseeing her nest of six youngsters on the right hand side of the path.
The visitor now enters a more arid, desert type environment and either side of the path is a Coelophysis (hollow form). A bit worrying this, they hunt in packs and I felt as if my escape route had been cut off. The last of the education boards, The great dinosaur extinction, or was it?' is here, and a glimpse of an impressive looking Edmontonia (named for the Edmontinian Formation in which the first specimen was discoveredcan be had. Across the path a living Komodo Dragon may be visible in her outside enclosure.
Edmontonia is now one of my favourite dinosaurs, but the next animal is not a dinosaur at all. Quetzalcotalus (named for the feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl) is a Pterosaur which was described in 1975. I remember it well. The brightly coloured beak and facial skin is reminiscent of some of the Asian hornbills.
The next specimen is a Brachiosaurus (arm lizard), the tallest known dinosaur.
A loud bellowing sound announces the presence of Parasaurolophus (near-crested lizard), another of my favourite dinosaurs. The strange looking Pachycephalosaurus (thick-headed lizard) is the next door neighbour.
Next is a large space containing the Presenters' arena, and alongside the arena is a Deionychus (terrible-claw) feeding on a Parasaurolophus. This was very popular with the children.
Also popular was a mechanical T.rex which children could control themselves, a replacement for last year's Dimetrodon.
The last exhibit is the Tyrannosaurus rex (king tyrant lizard) and her baby. Very impressive. I'm concerned about the only barrier between the T.rex and visitors is a low wall of boulders, the children were climbing all over it although the T.rexes didn't seem hungry, fortunately.
Opposite the T.rex and baby is a model of a T.rex half buried in the sand on which hordes of small children were sitting while having their photographs taken.
The exit, as last year, leads into the Fountain Shop.
Many of the paths were wider this year. Although congestion was still a problem at some points I think it is a vast improvement on the 2011 exhibition. The only serious problem was by the Coelophysis when a family decided that it would be better for them if they went the wrong way round. Other than that my only complaint is of selfish people who walk in front of other people with cameras, deliberately getting in the way. It only takes a few seconds to take a photo, such a short delay is not going to disrupt their life by much.
I heard a lot of people saying it is better than last year and I agree with the statement.
After visiting the dinosaurs I went to look at some real reptiles in the Tropical Realm.
2011 review http://www.zoochat.com/38/chester-zoo-dinosaurs-large-review-221468/
link Dinosaurs Bite Back! Exhibition | Chester Zoo UK
The dinosaur exhibition (as last year) is entered via an archway at the north end of Islands in Danger. The first thing one sees is a slush cart on the right which is populr with children I expect, but not all that common in the Triassic/Jurassic/Cretaceous eras. A good view of lemur island can be obtained if you look to the left. I did not see any lemurs on my visit.
Just like the 2011 exhibition the first dinosaur is a baby. Stegosaurus (roof lizard) this time. The young one lies half hidden in the vegetation and it's mum can be seen on the left hand side of the path, just before the right angled bend to the right. Misters lie each side of the path making for a 'foggy' atmosphere. This feature is used several times in the exhibition.
A sign to the left of the path warns visitors to 'beware of the spitting dinosaur', a Dilophosaurus (double-crested lizard). I managed to get soaked. Opposite the adult Dilophosaurus is the northern end of the Komodo dragon enclosure and an educational sign explains the relationship between modern Komodo dragons and dinosaurs.
A baby Dilophosaurus is next, and it also spits, and yes, I got soaked again! Dilophosaurus was originally thought to be a Megalosaurus (great lizard) which is the next exhibit over the narrow bridge. More misters create fog in this area, previously home to one of Chester's many rose gardens.
Beyond Megalosaurus a great view of the flamingos can be enjoyed. A sign, 'What's the difference between flamingos and a dinosaur? Not a lot,' explains the relationship between flamingos and dinosaurs.
Styracosaurus (spiked lizard) is next, a female overseeing her nest of six youngsters on the right hand side of the path.
The visitor now enters a more arid, desert type environment and either side of the path is a Coelophysis (hollow form). A bit worrying this, they hunt in packs and I felt as if my escape route had been cut off. The last of the education boards, The great dinosaur extinction, or was it?' is here, and a glimpse of an impressive looking Edmontonia (named for the Edmontinian Formation in which the first specimen was discoveredcan be had. Across the path a living Komodo Dragon may be visible in her outside enclosure.
Edmontonia is now one of my favourite dinosaurs, but the next animal is not a dinosaur at all. Quetzalcotalus (named for the feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl) is a Pterosaur which was described in 1975. I remember it well. The brightly coloured beak and facial skin is reminiscent of some of the Asian hornbills.
The next specimen is a Brachiosaurus (arm lizard), the tallest known dinosaur.
A loud bellowing sound announces the presence of Parasaurolophus (near-crested lizard), another of my favourite dinosaurs. The strange looking Pachycephalosaurus (thick-headed lizard) is the next door neighbour.
Next is a large space containing the Presenters' arena, and alongside the arena is a Deionychus (terrible-claw) feeding on a Parasaurolophus. This was very popular with the children.
Also popular was a mechanical T.rex which children could control themselves, a replacement for last year's Dimetrodon.
The last exhibit is the Tyrannosaurus rex (king tyrant lizard) and her baby. Very impressive. I'm concerned about the only barrier between the T.rex and visitors is a low wall of boulders, the children were climbing all over it although the T.rexes didn't seem hungry, fortunately.
Opposite the T.rex and baby is a model of a T.rex half buried in the sand on which hordes of small children were sitting while having their photographs taken.
The exit, as last year, leads into the Fountain Shop.
Many of the paths were wider this year. Although congestion was still a problem at some points I think it is a vast improvement on the 2011 exhibition. The only serious problem was by the Coelophysis when a family decided that it would be better for them if they went the wrong way round. Other than that my only complaint is of selfish people who walk in front of other people with cameras, deliberately getting in the way. It only takes a few seconds to take a photo, such a short delay is not going to disrupt their life by much.
I heard a lot of people saying it is better than last year and I agree with the statement.
After visiting the dinosaurs I went to look at some real reptiles in the Tropical Realm.
2011 review http://www.zoochat.com/38/chester-zoo-dinosaurs-large-review-221468/
link Dinosaurs Bite Back! Exhibition | Chester Zoo UK
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. All in all a pleasant stroll as a short break from the real animals.