Walk among Mammoths and Cave Lions at Cox Science Center

A cave lion at the Giants of the Ice Age exhibit. [Photo by Cox Science Center and Aquarium]

Before modern humans walked the Earth, mammoths, cave lions and towering flightless birds roamed the planet. Now visitors to the Cox Science Center and Aquarium can meet these prehistoric giants in the outdoor exhibit “Giants of the Ice Age.”

A moa, a prehistoric flightless bird, is featured in the "Giants of the Ice Age" exhibit. [Photo by Cox Science Center and Aquarium]

Open through April 13, “Giants of the Ice Age” winds through the Fisher Family Science Trail, where life-size models of some of the largest and most fascinating animals after the age of the dinosaurs bring the Ice Age to life.

As they follow the trail, visitors will encounter woolly mammoths, powerful cave lions, giant flightless moas, elephantlike Cuvieronius, giant lemurs, and the unusual Macrauchenia, a South American mammal known for its long neck and trunklike snout.

Interpretive displays explain how these animals adapted to a changing world and how dramatic shifts in Earth’s climate led to their extinction.

“Summer is one of the most exciting times of year at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium,” CEO Kurt Allen says. “With school out and families looking for things to do together, guests can spend the day exploring the exhibits and aquarium, watching live science shows, or attending one of our special events.”

Whether marveling at a mammoth’s tusks, standing eye-to-eye with a cave lion or discovering lesser-known species like the Macrauchenia, visitors will experience a prehistoric world unlike anything today.

Woolly mammoths along the Giants of the Ice Age trail. [Photo by Cox Science Center and Aquarium]

Designed for all ages, “Giants of the Ice Age” offers an opportunity to learn how these creatures lived, adapted and ultimately disappeared, leaving clues that continue to fascinate scientists.

A Macrauchenia, native to South America, is featured in the Giants of the Ice Age exhibit. [Photo by Cox Science Center and Aquarium]

For more information, visit coxsciencecenter.org.