Roaring success: New exhibit at Ky Fauna Park a hit

By Jemma Jones

Apr 20, 2024

Look out: Cousins Memphis Pinchbeck, 9, Scarlet Pinchbeck, 5, Amelia Pinchbeck, 7, in front of the T-Rex. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Tourists and locals have flocked to Kyabram Fauna Park to see the regular animals ... and some from another time.

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The park has always been a hit with children during the school holidays with kangaroos, birds and animals galore; however, I’m dino-sure this popularity has something to do with the new exhibition which opened on March 29.

The ‘Dinos at the Zoo’ exhibit takes visitors on a trail to meet 15 mighty animatronic dinosaurs spread across a newly developed area of parkland.

Children can also spend time in the Dino Dig, brushing away sand to uncover hidden treasures – dinosaur bones.

Uncovering hidden bones: Oliver Ross, 5, is hard at work at the Dino Dig site. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The exhibit has been a year in the making — clearing the parkland, forging the trail, and adopting the dinosaurs — and the hard work has paid off.

Park general manager Paul Lavars said that the park has seen 9000 people through the gates just this school holiday season, compared to the 7000 visitors for the entirety of last year.

“Dinos at the Zoo has been a success both in attendance and in experience,” Mr Lavars said.

“People have loved them, and the feedback has been so positive.

“Our visitor numbers have been steadily increasing and we hope to reach 75,000 visitors by end of financial year.

“We are seeing people from all over Victoria, and most importantly, our regional locals are coming back to visit after not visiting for many years.’’

Keep digging: Gean-Luca Ross, 8, at the dino bones digging site. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

What a find: Elice Horbath, 7, clear the dig site. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The Kyabram Fauna Park was adopted by Victoria Zoos in 2022, and since then the park has seen much development and transformation.

Mr Lavars said that visitors could expect more change and improvement in the coming months.

“We hope people join us on the journey as we grow and improve Kyabram Fauna Park to become a place where they will not only see animals and enjoy the ambience of the wetlands, but also learn about conservation,” he said.

“It’s an exciting future.’’