If a talking zebra, giraffe and hippo seemed strange in the animated movie ’‘Madagascar’, then the real life furry inhabitants of the island in the Indian Ocean will seem truly bizarre.

The University Museum of Zoology has created a special trail for children so they can learn about the 40-cm aye aye which uses a long clawed middle finger to pick insects out of tree holes; the ring-tailed lemur and the 70-cm fossa which eats them!

The ‘Real Madagascar’ exhibition, which is open until December 24, is not only an opportunity for youngsters to see what the animals inhabiting the forests of Madagascar are really like - they can also try to recreate the elephant bird which lived on the island hundreds of years ago.

Children can take part in a competition to draw, from their imaginations, the extinct bird and winners, chosen by the Museum’s Curators, will be given a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum and its collections later in the year. The competition will run until September 30 and there will be a display of the children's drawings in the Museum from October 24 to 28 (half term).

Youngsters can collect a free trail on entry to the Museum for the rest of the summer holidays.

The Museum is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 16:45 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 13:00 pm. Admission is free.

For more information contact: Museum of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ. Tel: 01223 336650. Email: umzc@zoo.cam.ac.uk

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