PROFESSOR HILDEBERG’S FAMOUS HIBERNATING ANTARCTIC ZOO (2015)
Renowned naturalist and explorer Professor Hans Hildeberg claims to have discovered a wide variety of Antarctic creatures that have never before been seen by mankind.
He believes their elusive nature has been key to their survival in a continent encroached on by humans. But their increasingly tenuous existence in a habitat eroded by climate change makes these creatures very precious.
Thankfully, Senior Research Assistant, Gretchen Pankhurst, has developed an inspirational way to to transport and exhibit the creatures during their hibernating state in ‘Thermostatic Vivariums’ (fridges) and return them to their natural habitats unharmed in good time for their natural awakening. The ecologically sound concept of Professor Hildeberg’s Famous Hibernating Antarctic Zoo gives the public an opportunity to see astonishing creatures such as the Seal Bat and the Yellow Snow Chameleon face-to-face. To date, this unique Zoo has toured to Scotland, England, Belgium and Austria.
“From the introductory film, through our induction, complete with the donning of protective clothing, to the hibernating oddities in their chill cabinets, this is a meticulously detailed, twinklingly humorous whimsy that melds Barnum and Bailey with David Attenborough”
“Festival audiences were queuing around the block to view these rare and previously unknown specimens and were delighted and intrigued by what they saw. I would strongly recommend the Zoo to other festivals looking to raise awareness of these beautiful and strange Antarctic inhabitants”
The Zoo received a Creation aid by the IN SITU network, in the frame of the META project. The co- producers were: UZ Arts (Glasgow, GB), Provinciaal Domein Dommelhof (Neerpelt, BE), La Strada (AT), Lieux publics (Marseille, FR). This project was funded with support from the European Commission (DGEAC) – Culture programme.