Dinosaur Encounter

Touring Exhibitions

Dinosaur EncounterCome face-to-face with the great T. rex, a Triceratops and its young, and many more creatures from the Jurassic and Cretaceous!

Create bespoke encounters with eight large-scale animatronic dinosaurs and hands-on specimens for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

Designers and scientists from the Natural History Museum worked closely together to create scientifically accurate dinosaurs and an unprecedented level of realism. These life-like dinosaurs will give visitors a thrilling glimpse at these incredible creatures, inspire fun and engage learning.

‘ It was a delight working with the Natural History Museum on Dinosaur Encounter. The communication and support was excellent, and the technicians who assisted with the install were invaluable, professional and very experienced. The exhibition was a huge success, and for us a rare example of quality, popularity and prestige crossing over to create a fantastic product.’John Stokes, Art Manager, Rheged Centre, Cumbria, UK

‘ The exhibition has really put us on the map, while the amazing public response shows that this kind of ambition is worthwhile. We don’t have to rely on the main centres alone to deliver this kind of experience. We know from our own education and holiday programmes that dinosaurs are as popular with kids and families as they’ve ever been, but we’re still stunned by the numbers that have been through to see them.’ Andy Lowe, CEO, Te Manawa, New Zealand

© W5, Belfast

The creatures of Dinosaur Encounter

Tyrannosaurus rex ¾-size animatronic

4.37m / 14.3 ft wide6.1m/20 ft long4.5m/14.8ft tall

• One of the largest land-dwelling meat-eaters that ever lived

• Adult T.rex grew up to 12m/39.3ft long and weighed about seven tonnes

• Had large powerful back legs with clawed feet that were probably used to hold down prey

• Lived a solitary existence or in small family groups

Ankylosaurus ¾-size animatronic

1.4m/4.6ft wide4.5m/14.8ft long1.5m/5ft tall

• Short-legged, sturdy-limbed creature with bands of bony studs or plates that protected its body

• Large triangular horns positioned at the rear corners of the skull

• Surprisingly agile creature• Heavy bony club at the end of its tail

probably used as a defensive weapon • Lived in North America and East Asia

(Mongolia)

Baryonyx 3/5-size animatronic

1.2m/3.9ft wide4.8m/15.8ft long1.85/6ft tall

• Predator that prowled through conifer and cycad forests, ferny glades and horsetail meadows fringing rivers, lakes and swamps

• Caught large fish up to 1m/3.2ft with its great thumb claw

• Distinguishing features included a long mouth, S-shaped curved jaw and narrow, pointed teeth (much like modern fish-eating crocodiles today)

• Lived in warm floodplains of England, France and Belgium

Triceratops and two Triceratops young ½-size animatronic

2.45m/8ft wide4.33m/14.2ft long1.79m/5.9ft tall

• A horned, plant-eating dinosaur• Almost certainly prey of the

Tyrannosaurus rex• Protected itself using its three horns and

a large bony neck frill• A five-tonne charging Triceratops

could have deterred one of the largest predators, as a rhino defends itself today

• Lived in western North America

Ornithomimus Full-size animatronic

0.7m/2.3ft wide3.25m/10.7ft long1.88m/6.2ft tall

• Known as the ostrich dinosaur • Ran faster than an Olympic sprinter• Ornithomimids seem to be very similar

in size and appearance, reaching body lengths of about 3 to 4 metres/ 9.8 to 13.1 feet

• Ornithomimids bear strong resemblance to modern ground-dwelling birds, such as the ostrich or emu

• Lived in Cretaceous Period in western North America and East Asia (Mongolia)

Tyrannosaurus rex3/5-size animatronic

1.4m/4.6ft wide4.54m/14.9ft long2.85m/9.4ft tall

• Used a combination of ambush predation and scavenging to obtain a meal (although scientists hold different views on the subject)

• Able to survey the landscape using acute vision and had a good sense of smell

Oviraptor and two static OviraptorsFull-size animatronic

0.7m/2.3ft wide2.6m/8.5ft long1.45m/4.8ft tall

• One of the most unusual dinosaurs• Oviraptor measured 1.5 to 2.3 metres/

4.9 to 7.5 feet in length• Short head and larger jaws than those of

Ornithomimus• Oviraptor had a completely toothless jaw

possibly covered by a horny sheath• Likely exerted a powerful force on its

food as suggested by massive curved shape of the lower jaw

• Meaning ‘egg thief’, the Oviraptor may have fed on the eggs of other dinosaurs but latest findings suggest they had a varied diet and may have been protecting their own nests rather than stealing eggs.

© Te Manawa, New Zealand

existing DOOR

existing DOOR

3/4 T. rex

3/5 T. rex

Fossil showcases

Entrance/exit

Hands on T. rex footprint

Hands on T. rex skull

Hands on Triceratops skull

Maiasaura skeleton

Ankylosaurus

BaryonyxTriceratops

Ornithomimus

Oviraptors

Example floorplan

Exhibition • Eight animatronic models and two static models • Thirteen museum-quality fossil replicas • Eight photographs taken during a Natural History

Museum dinosaur expedition to Niger, Africa • Exhibition text in word document for all dinosaurs

and replicas (in English only) • Installation and dismantling of animatronic models –

five day average installation/dismantling timeframe • Technical support services • Instructions for day-to-day supervision Additional Thirteen museum-quality fossil replicas form part of the exhibition, including:exhibits • Three hands-on replica fossils:

Tyrannosaurus rex skull, Tyrannosaurus rex footprint (negative), Triceratops skull

• Nine replica fossils and mounts: Deinonychus skull and forelimbs, Allosaurus tooth and root, Allosaurus claw, Allosaurus skull (juvenile), Tyrannosaurus claw, Tyrannosaurus tooth & root, Velociraptor claw, Herrerasaurus skull, Eoraptor skull (Venue to supply showcases for display).

• Full-size Maiasaura skeleton

Specifications Indoor display area 400sqm/4,305sqft Venue ceiling height 4m/13.1ft minimum 4.5m/14.8ft-high area to assemble the 3/4 T. rex

Doorway access Minimum height 2.3m/7.5ft Minimum width 1.7m/5.6ft

To be provided • Scenery, backdrops, lighting and barriersby the hosting • Air compressor and pipework to power the animatronic modelsvenue • Single-phase electrical supply • Translation of text (if necessary) and production of text panels and graphics • Transportation costs and insurance (transit and public liability) for exhibition • Equipment required for access, installation and dismantling • Skilled support staff to assist with installation and dismantling • Storage facilities for transport cases • Promotion and publicity • Staffing during exhibition run

Hire fee Monthly hire fees are available from our team in the Touring Exhibitions department. Please contact us for more details. Email touring@nhm.ac.uk, call +44 (0) 20 7942 6245 or go to www.nhm.ac.uk/touringexhibitions The average hire duration is three months but we welcome enquiries for all presentation lengths.

Retail We offer a popular dinosaur-themed retail collection featuring a range of carefully selected products for purchase, including:

• Books, games and puzzles • Soft toys, models and activity toys • Stationery and keyrings • Homeware • Apparel for children and adults

For a copy of our dinosaur merchandise catalogue please contact: touring@nhm.ac.uk

© W5, Belfast

The Natural History Museum has been open since 1881 and welcomes more than five million people a year of all ages and levels of interest. Our team has been touring ground-breaking exhibitions since 1990. Each year they are enjoyed by millions of people around the world. As a major international research institution, we draw on the experience and expertise of the 300 scientists working at the Museum to ensure the scientific accuracy of each exhibition.

Touring ExhibitionsThe Natural History MuseumCromwell RoadLondon SW7 5BD