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New Zoo Exhibits Feature Giraffes & Pterosaurs

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- They roamed the earth millions of years ago, now they're on display at the Minnesota Zoo.

But that's not all that's happening -- families can also get an up close look at Africa.

Take a look in the video above.

"This is the only place where you can see…a good representation of the African Sahara all at once," said Adam Keniger, a Zookeeper at the Minnesota Zoo.

From Vulturine Guineafowl to wildebeest that can run up to 45 mph, kids can go on an adventure within the zoo gates.

"We have two giraffes – they are both boys, 11 and 12 years old -- and they really are the stars of the show. The great thing about this exhibit is people have a chance to get up nice and close to them, and potentially feed them," Keniger said.

While there are free roaming animals that are close to extinction, there are also those that have been dead millions of years.

At the Dinosaurs! exhibit, there will be recognizable faces, and lots of tricky names.

"So here's the other tongue twister...this is a pterosaur, a flying reptile that lived at the same time as dinosaurs," said Jessica Madole, the zoo's interpretive program director.

Besides their names, their movements might creep some of you out.

"There's more than one dinosaur in this exhibit that staff have said they're pretty sure their eyes follow them when they are alone," Madole said.

Both exhibits opened Saturday to the public, and they both run until Sept. 2.

For more information, click here.

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