Your favourite extinct animals arrive at Marwell Zoo for the summer

July 18, 2025

A girl pretends to scream and run away from a titanoboa made of toy bricks at Marwell Zoo's Extinction event

Step back in time this summer as we unveil some of the world’s most extraordinary extinct animals – here’s a first glimpse!

Youngsters and adults were in awe of the fearsome sabre-toothed tiger, towering woolly mammoth, and eight dodos which are among the prehistoric stars of Extinction, just arrived here for the summer.

The jaw-dropping toy brick exhibition, which will run from Saturday 19 July until Sunday 7 September 2025, shines a spotlight on lost species through a world-first collection of extinct animals.

Two people smile in a dodo photo opportunity made of toy bricks at Marwell Zoo's Extinction event
A child roars face-to-face with a dire wolf made of toy bricks at Marwell Zoo's Extinction event
Two children point at an Ichthyosaur made of toy bricks at Marwell Zoo's Extinction brick event
A girl poses with a moropus made of toy bricks at Marwell Zoo's Extinction event
Two people pose as dinosaurs in a dinosaur egg made of toy bricks at Marwell Zoo's Extinction event

In total, the trail features 35 stunning sculptures representing 24 different extinct species, including a hissing titanoboa, a giant ground sloth, and a Caspian tiger.

The life-sized models were meticulously built using more than two million toy bricks and took over 4,000 hours to construct – a true labour of love that will leave visitors of all ages in awe.

Adventurers can explore our 140-acre parkland on a journey through time, collecting a free trail activity pack at the entrance and meeting creatures that once roamed the Earth. Along the way, there’s a chance to climb inside a giant dinosaur egg to pose for the camera and hear a dire wolf’s howl with the press of a button.

Two children with their faces painted hold up the Dodo and Mammoth they made from toy bricks
A little boy with his face painted as a tiger poses with a Marwell Zoo team member at the Extinction brick event

Visitors can also head to Extinction Basecamp in the Secret Garden where they can transform into their favourite animal with themed face painting (on selected dates), help build a massive brick sabre-toothed tiger and craft their own mini mammoth or dodo to take home (additional charge applies). The free trail pack includes the opportunity to win some amazing prizes including four tickets to the magical winter lights trail, Glow Marwell, by designing a dodo and four Explorer memberships for year-round adventures to the zoo if you guess how many bricks it took to build the Woolly Mammoth.

For those looking to upgrade their visit, there will be a family friendly Extinction-themed afternoon tea in Grade 1 listed Marwell Hall on selected dates. Guests can also prebook a new immersive virtual reality experience for £6 per person where they can get closer than ever before to our planet’s incredible creatures.

A group of people with VR headsets on at Marwell Zoo's Virtual Reality Experience
Three boys at Marwell Zoo holding paper trails of the Extinction event map

Nicky Cole, Senior Events Manager, said: “We’re thrilled with the response to Extinction so far. Seeing families learn, laugh, and explore together made all the months of planning and building worthwhile. With 35 magnificent brick models and an engaging hands-on trail, the event has sparked curiosity about the past while highlighting the importance of protecting species today.”

The Extinction event and trail pack is included with general admission, giving visitors a chance to experience both the prehistoric past and Marwell’s rare and endangered animals – all while supporting vital conservation efforts in the UK and across the globe.

Plus, this summer the fun continues into the evening with our Extinction Lates events on Saturday 9 August and Saturday 16 August, from 6pm until 9pm. During this unique summer evening, there will be live entertainment, opportunities to meet the talented creatives behind the magnificent brick sculptures, discover more about the lost species of Extinction with Marwell’s storyteller and more. Prices for the Extinction Lates evenings start from just £16 per person, under threes and carers are free.