COLUMBUS, Ohio — It is the first of its kind in the Midwest, a new evening exhibit at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium where old creatures come back to life. 

“We were really excited to do something new, different, beautiful, and kind of go along with our conservation messaging as well,” said Sam King, operations director at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Seventy different extinct or endangered species are on full display as illusions and projections.

“It was really a good opportunity to kind of talk about animals who have gone extinct or are almost extinct,” said King. “And it matched well with our conservation messaging of why we, you know, empower people and save wildlife.”

The immersive nighttime experience is open from 7:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night through the end of April. 

“It’s a totally new world here at the zoo when it’s dark,” said King. “So you’ll see some cool projection mapping that shows you animals again that are extinct or maybe coming extinct soon.”

This is the first year the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has showcased this exhibit and it chose to do it at night to bring something different to the zoo. 

“We’ve never really had the opportunity as much to kind of showcase what we can be and do at night,” said King. “So we wanted to kind of give a different view, another opportunity and ours that aren’t wild lights to come to the park in the evening.”

Based on the feedback the zoo is receiving, King said she is hopeful it will return next year.

“We wanted to try it and see how it went,” said King. “And it’s getting rave reviews from all of our guests.”

The “Unextinct” immersive experience is a ticketed event.