Columbus Zoo's 'Unextinct' brings extinct and endangered animals to all ages
When the sun goes down at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, animals not usually seen there come to life, some of them for the first time in centuries.
"Unextinct," the zoo's new interactive digital experience, is composed of 15 areas where projected illusions of extinct species and critically endangered critters swim, jump, frolic, fly and roam.
A scattered selection of hardy souls braved the bitter cold on Thursday night to walk through the wildlife wonderland.
"It really offers something different to do," zoo guest Liz Gruhalla, of Columbus, said.
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The display, which debuted on March 14, drew more than 1,000 guests on its opening weekend, according to Anthony Sabo, the zoo's vice president of operations and guest services.
"(The experience) is the first of its kind in Ohio and the second in the United States," Sabo said. "It's a completely different way to see the zoo, a totally different vibe than what the zoo usually has."
The immersive event will be open from 7:30-10:30 p.m. on select Thursdays (March 21 and March 28), Fridays and Saturdays through April 6, after which it will run Fridays and Saturdays through April 27.
When guests arrive, they are greeted by the Living Water display at the central pond, where ghost-like visions of coelacanths, sawtooth sharks, humpback whales and other underwater denizens soar through the air, an effect achieved with a semi-translucent aqua screen.
The 14 other "worlds" in "Unextinct" include Arachnoglitch, an exhibit of eight-legged crawlies; Soaring Panorama, a world of long-extinct birds; and an ultraviolet art tunnel where African and Asian elephants, a Javan green magpie and other winged creatures, vultures and more burst from the scene in DayGlo colors.
The ground-breaking technological wonder is the work of Mangolin Creative, a Los Angeles-based studio specializing in immersive experiential design.
Mangolin co-founder Morgan Lee Richardson said "Unextinct" was six years in the making, shifting and morphing before it was unveiled at the Sacramento Zoo last year.
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"'It was built off the notion that animals perceive the world differently than we do," Richardson said, adding that besides blending art and entertainment, "Unextinct" is meant to call attention to global wildlife conservation.
The installation is indeed equal parts entertaining, educational and environmentally edifying, with fact-filled narratives accompanying the visuals at each stop.
Though the project is his baby, Richardson admitted he was slightly biased when he selected the species to feature in "Unextinct."
"I was playing favorites when I picked the animals I wanted to include. I also wanted to choose animals you would not see in a zoo," he said, listing the hellbender salamander among his favorites.
Richardson said public reaction to "Unextinct" thus far has been positive. "It feels great. It's always fantastic to see and hear the guests chattering," he said.
Sabo said the experience has attracted guests from preschoolers to grandparents. "'Unextinct' is great for all ages," he said.
As evidence of this, Tad and Vernonica Delicath, of Columbus, turned out with their three sons, Hal, 4, Xavier, 2, and Remy, 6 weeks. "We love glow-in-the dark stuff, so when we heard about this, we said, 'We're there,'" Veronica said.
Citing the Living Water exhibition, her husband agreed: "That was so cool!"
General admission to "Unextinct," which is separate from zoo admission, costs $28.99 for those 10 and older and $25.99 for children ages 3-9. Upgrade to a premium ticket for $38.99 and receive an interactive glow bracelet and souvenir cup. Members of the zoo, Zoombezi Bay and The Wilds receive discounts on admission prices.
Before you go, you can download the zoo's free mobile app from the Apple or Google Play store to see the animals featured in "Unextinct," along with conservation information about each.
For more information about "Unextinct," go to columbuszoo.org.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Zoo's Unextinct teaches about extinct and endangered animals