‘World first’ exhibition of robotic predators set to be unveiled at Chester Zoo

Giant robots, including a 12-foot-tall bear and six-metre-long snake, will be among the special creations on display when a new exhibition of prehistoric predators makes its world premiere at Chester Zoo.

13 life-sized animatronic hunters are set to star in the new show which opens at the zoo on Saturday (25 May).

It will showcase over 200 million years of lost species.

Creators have been working to create realistic movements and sounds

The models will include the infamous T-Rex – the most feared land predator of all time – a shark which had a bite that was three metres wide and a giant snake that ate crocodiles for breakfast.

Zoo conservationists hope the high-tech creatures will highlight that extinction is a very real threat to animals on the planet today.

Phil Blackburn, Zoo Ranger, said:

“This collection of robotic predators is a super-sized new exhibition that has never before been seen, anywhere in the world.

“It’s amazing to see the sheer size and scale of some of the mega beasts that once walked the planet but it’s also a real reminder about the threat of extinction many species face today.

“It’s heart-breaking to think that, one day, future generations may only be able to see animatronic jaguars, tigers and lions because they too have been wiped out. That’s what we want to highlight with this new display – and that it’s vital that we act now to prevent the extinction of species while we still have the chance.”

The exhibition will be on display until September.