We first told you HERE in 2022 that the Orlando Science Center (Website) was hard at work revamping its outdated NatureWorks exhibit with something a bit fresher and conservation-minded, and we are happy to report that they are already 60% finished.
Once complete in Spring 2024, the new $13.5 million exhibit, called “Life,” will promote messages of sustainability and conservation reinforced by live animal interactions and hands-on displays and is the largest exhibit construction project in the center’s history, at over 10,000 SF.
The space will be divided into three distinct animal habitats; Ocean, Rainforest, and Swamp, as interpreted through a free-flight aviary and a 360-degree aquatic habitat. The aviary will be inhabited by sloths, golden tamarins, and various tropical bird species and has already been installed with massive natural tree trunks that will soon be crowned with plant life and habitats for the animals, including a sculpted rock surface and a waterfall.
The entire Rainforest section will be a free-roam area where the tamarinds and birds can go where they will, and interact with visitors along the pathway. All of the animals will have access to backstage rooms and habitats where they can take breaks away from visitors on their own time and agency.
The Swamp section will focus mostly on Florida wildlife with the gators and turtles from the previous installation making a happy return with fancy new UV lighting and more areas to warm up and chill out, alongside an onsite gopher tortoise colony. A group of squirrels will also call this exhibit home and will have free reign of the wint via a series of hamster tunnel-like mesh tubes soaring over the heads of the visitors.
The Ocean section will be themed towards the Indian River Lagoon and will feature two coral reef tanks and touch tanks to get close to different aquatic species.
Watch our video tour below to get a taste of what the Science Center has been cooking up.
