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Wales Online
Wales Online
Entertainment
Aamir Mohammed

This weekend is your last chance to see Dippy the Dinosaur in Cardiff

If you haven't already been to see one of Natural History Museum's best-recognised exhibits, Dippy the Diplodocus, this weekend is your last chance.

The 70ft (21.3m) plaster-cast sauropod replica made up of 292 bones is currently standing in the foyer of the National Museum Cardiff as part of a nationwide tour.

Dippy the Diplodocus has been in Cardiff since October 19, and his last day is Sunday, January 26 , before he's packed up and taken to Rochdale.

Thousands have flocked to Cardiff to see Dippy and there's even a museum sleepover, tonight, to celebrate his final night in Cardiff.

Made in 1905, Dippy took up residence in Hintze Hall in 1979 and in 1993 had his tail raised – in that time it is estimated he has been viewed by more than 90 million visitors.

It was decided in to retire Dippy and replace him with the real skeleton of a blue whale.

The Diplodocus species lived sometime between 156 and 145 million years ago.

Dippy the Diplodocus is 70ft (21.3m) plaster-cast sauropod replica and made up of 292 bones (Richard Williams/WalesOnline)
(Richard Williams/WalesOnline)

Previously, Lorraine Cornish, head of conservation at the central London museum, previously said it takes a team of six to dismantle Dippy piece by piece– beginning with the tail – over three-and-a-half weeks.

She said: “We are drawing out a map so we can locate each part of that skeleton – we have a labelling system because some of the vertebrae look very similar."

“Once you get them off you don’t want to muddle them up, so we have developed a proper numbering system that works with dinosaur anatomy.

“When we come to put it back together we don’t get anything jumbled up."

Admission is free to all and there are Welsh and English language large print guides available at reception.

The activity space is open from 11am-4pm.

For more information visit: museum.wales/dippy

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