Posted on 16th October 2012 by Media Relations
Sixty five million years ago a cataclysmic event changed the earth forever and dinosaurs couldn’t adapt fast enough to the new environment they found themselves in. While it wasn’t instantaneous, these incredible prehistoric creatures died out, and now we can only marvel at what they would have been like in the flesh. These days, humans are changing the earth’s environment so much, that there is a similar, but much faster challenge for today’s wild animals to adapt.Each of the dinosaurs in our exhibition are an important reminder to us all about the fate that animals such as the majestic Asian Elephant or Australia’s iconic Tasmanian Devil are facing in the wild today. Can you imagine a world without either of these animals?We often forget that it’s our everyday choices that are having such an impact on our wildlife. Each of the dinosaurs has a story that links to a modern-day animal that is currently doing it tough in the wild. Read on to find out about some of these animals and their links to the past.Allosaurus for the Sumatran Tiger Just like the Allosaurus, the Sumatran tiger chases its prey and uses its sharp teeth and claws to kill and eat. Despite being strong, these tigers are under threat in the wild due to habitat loss. Taronga Zoo manages a conservation breeding program and is working to protect tigers, orang-utans and elephants in Sumatra. You can do your bit by thinking carefully before you buy and choosing sustainable palm oil and recycled paper products.Come see the Sumatran Tigers at Taronga and learn more about the species and the conservation efforts to protect them here.Tyrannosaurus for the Tasmanian DevilLike the Tyrannosaurus, Tasmanian Devils are strong-jawed carnivores that scavenge for their food. The Tasmanian Devils can use their sharp teeth to crunch through bone and tear through flesh, making them fierce competitors when they’re fighting for their dinner. The Tasmanian Devil is disappearing at an alarming rate in the wild due to a contagious facial tumour disease, but by donating to Taronga, you can support a breeding program here that may just help save the species from extinction.Read more about the Tasmanian Devil Breeding Program here.Brachiosaurus for the Asian ElephantThe Brachiosaurus is an ambassador for the Asian Elephants. As the largest land-mammals in the world, these peaceful herbivores use their trunk to seek out the best plants in the forests. Just like the Brachiosaurus, they seek food up high, and move slowly through their jungle habitat. Due to habitat destruction, Asian Elephants are facing extinction, and it is vital that they don’t meet the same fate as the Brachiosaurus. Visit Taronga’s elephants today, see what Taronga is doing to breed an insurance population and learn about the international conservation efforts we support to protect the species through the Elephant Transit Home in Sri Lanka. Quetzalcoatlus for the vultureThe Quetzalcoatlus was a huge, flying beast and represents the Andean Condor, and all vultures, as it lived like a vulture picking off the flesh off dead animals. Andean Condors, which are a type of vulture, are losing the battle of survival due to habitat loss and secondary poisoning, as they eat the carcasses of cattle that have been treated with chemicals. Over time these chemicals build up in the vulture and result in death.Andean Condor are great ambassadors for birds everywhere. When you’re next at the Zoo, visit the QBE Free-Flight Bird Show to learn more about our Andean Condors. DINOSAURS are at Taronga Zoo Sydney this summer! Life-size, life-like and wild, the Dinosaurs have settled in at Taronga this summer! Find out more here!