(Milwaukee, WI): Open May 18 – October 5, 2024, the Milwaukee County Zoo invites you to step back in time and encounter some of the most formidable predators from the past at the Dinosaur Discovery exhibit.
Sponsored by Sendik’s Food Market, this outdoor exhibit located behind the Small Mammals Building features full-size, scientifically accurate animatronic dinosaurs that move, breathe, and even spit, offering a unique opportunity to touch and feel what these ancient creatures were like. Learn about the crucial role predators played in the ecosystem and find inspiration to help conserve their modern-day counterparts.
Admission and Exhibit Highlights
For just $4 per person, in addition to regular zoo admission, visitors can walk among these fascinating dinosaurs.
Highlights of the exhibit include:
- Carnotaurus: Known for being the only meat-eating dinosaur with horns, Carnotaurus had long, slender teeth and a highly flexible jaw that might have allowed it to swallow large pieces of meat. With forward-facing eyes, this dinosaur could run at speeds of up to 35 mph.
- Coelophysis: This dinosaur relied on speed and agility to catch prey, which included insects and small reptiles. With blade-like teeth and grasping claws, Coelophysis thrived during the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic period, with fossils discovered in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
- Giganotosaurus: Bigger than the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the Giganotosaurus used a bite-and-slice technique to prey on large herbivores. Their jaws could exert a bite force of 1,350 pounds per square inch, making them formidable hunters.
Special Roar & Explore Days
Enhance your Dinosaur Discovery experience by attending one of the special Roar & Explore days on May 18, June 1, June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14, and October 5. These days feature unique, hands-on STEM and sensory activities for guests, and the first 50 families on May 18, June 1, July 13, and August 10 will receive a $20 gift card to Sendik’s Food Market.
Roar & Explore activities include:
- Exploring biofacts: Investigate bones and feathers of animals living today.
- Dino Moves: Learn to move like a dinosaur.
- Adaptation Creation: Create an animal with fierce predator adaptations.
Visiting Information
Dinosaur Discovery is open during regular zoo hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily through September 2, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from September 3 through October 5. Tickets can be purchased on-site.
Don’t miss this exciting journey into the prehistoric world at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Be amazed by the awe-inspiring animatronic displays and gain a deeper appreciation for the incredible creatures that once roamed our planet!
*Exhibit provided by Billings Productions
