Edinburgh zoo
I visited this zoo in August 2012, and for a very obvious reason! I came to see the two giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang. There were other creatures there that my family and I had not seen before, … Continued
Fota Wildlife Park
I first visited Fota wildlife park in Cork when I was 5, and continued to visit every 1-2 years since. Perhaps the largest zoo in Ireland at 100 acres, the park has very spacious enclosures for its animals compared to … Continued
Belfast Zoo
Perhaps one of my favourite zoos that I’ve visited, I first learned about Belfast Zoo when I was 11, and I have been coming up at least once every year up until 2024. It might feel like your feet are … Continued
Dublin Zoo
My hometown zoo, Dublin Zoo, is a very special place as it is one of the oldest zoos in the world, opening all the way back in 1831. I have been a member for many years, and I used to … Continued
Ambulocetus
Meaning of name: Walking whale Named by: Hans Thewissen et al., 1994 Time period: Early Eocene Size: 3m long Diet: Carnivore Origin: Asia (Pakistan) Fossils seen at: Paris Interesting fact: Ambulocetus was the first early cetacean discovered to display adaptations for an aquatic lifestyle, making … Continued
Amphicyon
Meaning of name: Ambiguous dog Named by: Édouard Lartet, 1836 Time period: Miocene Size: Up to 2.5m long Diet: Carnivore but possibly omnivore Origin: North America, Eurasia, Africa Fossils seen at: Paris Interesting fact: Amphicyon is the most famous member of the ‘bear-dogs’, a … Continued
Andrewsarchus
Meaning of name: Andrews’ ruler (Roy Chapman Andrews led the expedition in which the skull was found) Named by: Henry Fairfield Osborn, 1924 Time period: Middle Eocene Size: Skull 83.4cm, full body possibly 3.6m long Diet: Carnivore or possibly omnivore Origin: Asia … Continued
Arsinoitherium
Meaning of name: Arsinoe’s beast (after an Ancient Egyptian queen) Named by: Hugh J.L. Beadnell, 1902 Time period: Late Eocene-early Oligocene Size: 3m long Diet: Herbivore Origin: Africa Fossils seen at: London, Paris Interesting fact: A study of its ear region suggested that Arsinoitherium might … Continued
Deinocheirus
Meaning of name: Terrible hand Named by: Halszka Osmólska and Ewa Roniewicz, 1970 Time period: Late Cretaceous Size: 11m long Diet: Omnivore Origin: Asia Fossils seen at: London Interesting fact: Originally known only from its massive forelimbs, it was not until 2013 … Continued
Megaloceros
Meaning of name: Great antler Named by: Joshua Brookes, 1828 Time period: Early Pleistocene-middle Holocene Size: 2m tall at the shoulders Diet: Herbivore Origin: Eurasia Fossils seen at: Dublin (both the Natural History Museum and Trinity College), Belfast, London, Edinburgh, Paris Interesting fact: … Continued