Take a walk on the Wild Lights side ... zoo to shed some light on its animals

DUBLIN Zoo hopes to be illuminating this winter as it hosts a spectacular new night-time event inspired by wildlife.

With a nod to the Chinese lantern tradition, the attraction’s park-like setting will be transformed into a 2km-long ‘enchanted trail’ featuring giant silk lanterns fashioned into lions, tigers, giraffes and monkeys.

A 16m-high porcelain elephant tower and a 30m-long Chinese dragon will also feature in the inaugural Wild Lights display that opens to the public on November 3 and remains open until January 7.

Although the zoo animals will be in their habitats and not on public display at night, the handmade silk creations will pay homage to many of the animals housed in the zoo.

Along with the lantern display, visitors will also be treated to acrobatic displays and other feats by Chinese performers while sampling Chinese food and drinks.

Christmas

The event takes place over the Christmas period and is expected to light up the Dublin skyline as the nights close in, according to Dublin Zoo director Leo Oosterweghel.

“This is going to be a really special and unique event for visitors to enjoy this festive season,” he said.

“At Dublin Zoo, we constantly strive to offer new and memorable experiences for our visitors.

“Wild Lights is the first of its kind event in Ireland.”

The event will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in November.

But it will be extended to seven nights a week in December, excluding the Christmas holidays.

It is currently in the production stages and will see more than 12,000m of silk used to make the creations, along with 19,000 bulbs, 5,000m of LED lights, and 48,000 glass bottles.

The elephant display alone will use 215,000 pieces of porcelain.