November 21, 2023

Knuthenborg Safari Park opened the "Evolution Museum" in 2023, featuring genuine dinosaur skeletons. This new attraction has drawn international guests to the Safari Park like never before.

Located on Lolland, Knuthenborg Safari Park unveiled a brand-new museum this year, showcasing 300 million years of evolutionary history through rare skeletons of dinosaurs, Ice Age animals, and Permian creatures.

The new venture has been a resounding success, as seen from the increased number of visitors after the autumn holidays. Visitor numbers rose from 281,000 in 2022 to 300,000 in 2023.

"We have seen a significant interest in the rare dinosaur skeletons at the Evolution Museum. The increase in international tourists is particularly notable, with a rise from 57 to 69 nationalities. Overall, this is nearly a 20% increase in international guests compared to last year. Germans, in particular, are prominently represented in the statistics. I can't recall ever seeing such a marked increase in international visitors before," says Christoffer Knuth, director of Knuthenborg Safari Park.

The attendance figures from Knuthenborg Safari Park highlight a positive trend for the entire Lolland-Falster region. According to Visit Lolland-Falster, the area has taken the top spot for the highest growth in overnight stays in Denmark compared to 2019.

In addition to the overall positive numbers for the season, the safari park is also pleased to see an increase in visitors during the shoulder seasons, outside the busy peak season.

"We can see that guests are visiting us much more during the off-peak seasons. For example, we have introduced a fantastic light show, Knuthenborg After Dark, in the autumn, where visitors could experience the usually cozy safari park in a slightly spookier atmosphere during the dark hours. It has been very well received," explains Christoffer Knuth.

A Completely Unknown Dinosaur Species Coming to Lolland

Throughout the season, the safari park has received notable feedback about the new museum.

"Many of our guests, both Danish and international, have expressed surprise that such impressive dinosaur fossil specimens are right here on Lolland. We are very proud of that, and I can promise that it will get even more exciting. For example, we will soon have a gigantic, well-preserved long-neck dinosaur and a previously unknown dinosaur species, which we are very excited to unveil," he continues.

"We are incredibly excited to reveal more about the unknown dinosaur species for two reasons. First, because it is the first specimen of a completely new species that the world has not seen before. Second, because it has turned out to be a treasure trove of knowledge about dinosaur evolution and potential theories that have not been confirmed before. I can confidently say that what has been found on the fossil is very unique," promises Christoffer Knuth.