Moving model dinosaurs arrive at Edinburgh Zoo

Dinosaurs returned to the earth today, as Edinburgh Zoo opened its new animatronic models exhibit.

One-year-old Toby meets the dinosaurs. Picture: Toby Williams

The long awaited six-month dinosaur exhibition opened its doors for the first time today, running until Sunday 1 November 2015.

The biggest dinosaur attraction in Scotland, the exhibition features 14 realistic dinosaurs set against the backdrop of the famous hills of Edinburgh.

With an extensive range of movement, many of the animatronic models can move their neck and head, eyes, tail, feet, wings or limbs in the way experts think the beasts would actually have moved and the dinosaur’s realistic calls and sounds can be heard across the Zoo’s hilltop.

Jonathan Purves and one-year-old Toby meet the dinosaurs. Picture: Toby Williams

Chris West, CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: “We are absolutely delighted to open Dinosaurs Return! to visitors.

“Not to be missed, we are extremely proud of the exhibition that aims to engage RZSS with large audiences regarding the very real threat of extinction faced by living animals today.

“A truly incredible additional attraction at Edinburgh Zoo for the next six months, we hope Dinosaurs Return! is both educational and informative, as well as awe-inspiring and memorable.”

As well as the regular mobility vehicle, Edinburgh Zoo has put in place a number of large people carriers to give extra help to visitors travelling to the top of the hill.

Edinburgh Zoo has urged dino fans to watch out for behind the scenes footage appearing on social media over the next few days, with the hashtags being: #DinosaursReturn or #SelfieSaurus