Southern Sweden’s Skånes Djurpark has some wild new inhabitants and they’re its oldest yet. 70 million years old, in fact. Conceived by the late theme park designer Eric Daman, Dinosaurier features 15 prehistoric creatures of various sizes.
The new SEK 14 million ($1.4m/€1.3m) attraction has been added for the animal park’s 70th anniversary season, which began on 20 June.
Located in a newly developed part of the site, Dinosaurier spans 3,000 square metres of forest. To enter, adventurers are invited to step through the Time Gate, which transports them back to the Jurassic period. Once inside, they will encounter an adventure trail populated by life-size, moving dinosaur figures.
The roar from above the treetops comes from the Brachiosaurus. This beast of a creature spans 27 metres from nose to tail. Also waiting to meet visitors are the giant Triceratops, swift Velociraptors and the dinosaur once native to Scania (Skåne), the Psittacosaurus.
Dinosaurier: an authentically themed experience
At Skånes Djurpark, the focus is largely on learning about animals and nature. In creating the new dinosaur attraction, the team has tried to make the experience as authentic as possible.
“Skåne is one of the few places in Scandinavia where dinosaurs definitely lived,” says Glenn André Viste Bøe, the park’s CEO. “There is no asphalt nor concrete in Dinosaurier.”
“The living dinosaurs are experienced from an adventure trail that goes above, under and around the majestic creatures,” he added. “At the end of the trail, you can experience the feeding of a T-Rex before travelling forward to the present day: a campsite where the children become part of the excavation team.”
“With this major investment we further our commitment to Skånes Djurpark’s future,” says Håkon Lund, owner of the Lund Group, the park’s operator. Lund was also responsible for assembling the team of theming experts that worked on Dinosaurier, including Karl Gerniers, Bram Debraekeleer and Fake Filmconstruction.
Eric Daman, who passed away in April at the age of 58, was an award-winning designer from Belgium. His credits include several renowned themed worlds at Phantasialand in Germany. His wife and children were present at the launch of Dinosaurier on 16 June.
Sleeping with dinosaurs
15 new members of staff have been recruited to help run the attraction at Skånes Djurpark. They will greet guests and share their knowledge of how the park’s prehistoric new arrivals live, eat and sleep.
Meanwhile, a new overnight experience called Dino Camp has been introduced in tandem with Dinosaurier. This takes the total capacity for those wanting to spend the night on site to 150.
“Dinosaurs are cool,” says the park’s head zoologist Anna Blinkowski. “We already have our Auroches, animals recreated from times passed. Now we are going 70 million years back in time to learn more about the animals who roamed the Earth back then.”
The winner of seven IAAPA Brass Ring Awards, Skånes Djurpark prides itself on showcasing only Nordic animals. There is one exception, however – it also features a popular Shaun the Sheep land.
Images: Lund Group
