Extinction: Not the End of the World?

At the entrance to the exhibition, visitors are greeted by the enormous skull of Chasmosaurus belli, measuring about 2m tall.

This dinosaur lived just before land-dwelling dinosaurs became extinct. Its name means 'opening lizard', in reference to the large holes in its frill. It was a herbivore and grew up to 6m long.

The extinction of most of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago paved the way for the diversity of life today.

On the video wall at the start of the exhibition journey, visitors can experience the rich variety of species today, thriving and threatened.

Vibrant images of life underwater, on land, and in flight appear on this large-screen installation.

Presiding over the centre of the exhibition is a huge 2.6m model of a bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, suspended over a giant tin can.

We're killing this species faster than it can reproduce. To prevent its extinction, we need to eat less tuna and start enforcing conservation measures.

An icon of extinction, the dodo, Raphus cucullatus, was highly successful in its home in Mauritius until rats, goats, pigs and monkeys were introduced by sailors. It became extinct in the 1680s.

This newly-commissioned specimen made for the exhibition is more scientifically accurate. The slimmer dodo is a very different shape to the recognisable round, plump bird we all know and love.

Could we go the same way as the Neanderthal and become Homo extinctus?

Although we think the last Neanderthal died 35,000 years ago, there is evidence they bred with our ancestors - about 3% of their DNA can be found in many humans.

Scientists still debate the cause of the Neanderthal's extinction. Everything from climate change, competition from modern humans, and inter-breeding have been suggested.

Its protective shell, its ability to live without food for up to 12 months and its large number of eggs are all traits that may have helped the leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, survive extinction for more than 110 million years.

While a global extinction of farmland and woodland birds may be some time into the future, their decline in particular countries such as the UK is dramatic.

In the exhibition, visitors can experience the sounds of the dawn chorus of British birds and the narrators' memories in Suky Best's evocative Early Birds animation.

Your visitors can also test their survival skills in the fun interactive game: On the brink. 

It's a race against extinction where players must dodge meteorite attacks and feed their own species.

At the end of the exhibition, visitors are encouraged to leave their thoughts on a wishing tree.

What hopes and wishes do we have for life on Earth? Which species couldn't we live without? Which ones wouldn't we miss?

As the number of leaves grows, the tree comes to life to reveal a thought-provoking exhibit created by exhibition visitors themselves.