Have you ever wanted your very own pet dinosaur, but have been hindered by the fact that they are so darn hard to care for... and extinct?

Well Rainbow Springs is offering you the next best thing!

The tuatara is New Zealand’s oldest living animal, and the closest living relation in the world to the dinosaur. In April this year, we successfully hatched a clutch of eleven precious baby tuatara and now you have the opportunity to name and meet these special creatures – and all for a great cause.

We are running three auctions, with each winner receiving the naming rights to two of the baby tuatara. The funds raised from the winning bids will go to further the conservation, education and captive breeding programme for tuatara at Rainbow Springs, Rotorua.

The tuatara were born to Mum Honey (24) and Dad Bugsy (53) after a 184 day incubation period and are thought to be the largest clutch of eggs to hatch in captivity and we’re very proud of them.

Obviously we can’t give them to you to take home but you can be assured that your own little ‘dinosaurs’ will be well looked after at Rainbow Springs.

The lucky winner of each auction will get:
• The naming rights for two of the tuatara babies we have on site at Rainbow Springs
• A soft toy tuatara to take home
• A Family Pass to Rainbow Springs (2 adults and 2 children)
• The opportunity to have your photo taken with your babies the next time you visit the Park

Visitors to Rainbow Springs in Rotorua can see the tuatara babies and their Mum Honey(24) and Dad Bugsy(53) on display as well as a whole range of other birds and animals.

From January we will also have an exciting new attraction – a water ride called The Big Splash. Check it all out on our website www.rainbowsprings.co.nz or The Big Splash blog http://projectbigsplash.com.