Exhibition highlights

At the entrance to the exhibition, you'll be 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.

Experience the rich variety of species today, thriving and threatened, on the video wall at the start of your exhibition journey. Vibrant images of life underwater, on land and in flight appear in this large-screen installation.

Floating in 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 they 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.

One of the exhibition's focal points is bound to be the magnificent adult Panthera tigris specimen, flanked by a tiger cub and tiger-skin coat. The tiger cub and coat were confiscated by the Metropolitan Police Service Wildlife Crime Unit. They were victims of wildlife crime, likely shot and sold. Habitat loss and heavy poaching has resulted in the tiger population being halved to about 3,000 left in the wild.

Thanks to the Metropolitan Police Service Wildlife Crime Unit, in partnership with the World Society for the Protection of Animals, for loaning the tiger cub and coat.

The giant deer with its 4m-antler span, roamed grasslands from Ireland through to Siberia. Yet as the last ice age came to an end around 10,000 years ago, its habitat and food supply declined dramatically. Small populations had survived ice ages in the past, so experts think it was the added stress of hunting by humans that finally caused their demise. 

Explore other large extinct animals like the sabre-tooth cat and mammoth that were hunted to extinction.

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. 

Meet the fish without a home. The live pupfish, Cyprinodon longidorsalis, swimming round this tank are from Mexico. Their natural habitat was drained of water for use in agriculture. Luckily they were rescued before that happened and they’re now being looked after by London Zoo. They will be returned to the wild if their habitat is ever restored.

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. The cuckoo, lapwing, wood warbler and turtle dove are in steep decline across the UK. This decline is large enough to change the sounds and sights of the countryside. 

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

Test your survival skills as you play the fun interactive game, On the brink... Dodge the meteorite attacks and make sure you feed your species as you race against the threat of extinction.

At the end of the exhibition, leave your thoughts on our wishing tree. What are your hopes and wishes for life on Earth? Which species couldn't you live without? Which ones wouldn't you miss? Have your say by writing down your thoughts and leaving them on the tree for others to read.

Before you leave, collect your favourite videos from the exhibition and extra content to explore online. Discover more about the history of life on Earth and the future we share. Join in conversations about conservation issues. And find out how you could help with scientific research.