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Curtin Uni lights up with giant wildlife spectacle as thousands flock to Creatures on Campus

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Kirsty LichtensteinThe West Australian
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One of the biggest attractions this weekend was the giant falcon with a ten-metre wingspan.
Camera IconOne of the biggest attractions this weekend was the giant falcon with a ten-metre wingspan. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

Curtin University transformed into a glowing wildlife wonderland on as thousands of visitors descended campus for the immersive Creatures on Campus experience.

Held across Friday and Saturday evening, the free community event brought giant illuminated animal installations, animatronics and interactive science activities designed to inspire future conservationists and biological scientists.

A five-metre tiger at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus.
Camera IconA five-metre tiger at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
Animatronic giraffes at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus.
Camera IconAnimatronic giraffes at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

Families and visitors wandered through a vivid after-dark biosphere featuring a towering five-metre tiger, a falcon boasting a 10-metre wingspan and a 27-metre Kaurna skink, alongside life-like animatronic pandas and giraffes.

The spectacle blended art, technology and conservation, with hands-on activities, virtual reality experiences and talks from Curtin researchers offering insight into extinction, fossils and ecosystems.

Illuminated jellyfish at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus.
Camera IconIlluminated jellyfish at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
The 27-metre Kaurna Skink at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus.
Camera IconThe 27-metre Kaurna Skink at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
The foxes at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus.
Camera IconThe foxes at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

Curtin University Properties, Facilities and Development director Tim Urquhart said the event demonstrated the impact of making science engaging and accessible for the wider community.

“Creatures on Campus invited the community to experience wildlife and conservation in a completely new way by blending science, storytelling and spectacle,” he said.

Two animatronic pandas at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus.
Camera IconTwo animatronic pandas at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
A giant angler fish at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus.
Camera IconA giant angler fish at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
A flamingo on display at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus.
Camera IconA flamingo on display at Curtin University’s Creatures on Campus. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

“It was fantastic to see so many people on campus after dark, particularly families and young people engaging with researchers and discovering more about the natural world.”

Visitors also met live marsupials, reptiles, amphibians and birds of prey.

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