ROYAL OAK, Mich., April 15, 2009 – They’re big, they’re bold, and they’re coming soon to the Detroit Zoo.  Nineteen large animatronic dinosaurs arrived today in preparation for the May 13 opening of Dinosauria.

The mammoth creatures were unloaded from several large semis onto a lush, three-acre DinoTrail recreating prehistoric life.  Each dinosaur is built on a steel frame by Billings Productions of McKinney, Tex., and covered with intricately painted foam rubber skin.

Supported by Hungry Howie’s Pizza, Dinosauria will be open daily May 13 through Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (until 7 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August).  Tickets are $3 for visitors of all ages and will be available at main admissions and at the Dinosauria exhibit during regular Zoo hours or online at www.detroitzoo.org.  

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October (open at 9 a.m. May 1 through Labor Day) – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March.  Admission is $11 for adults 15 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 14; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  Admission is free.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
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