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Puppet Characters Are Part Of An Unsual Exhibit At The Philadelphia Zoo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A new exhibit opened Saturday at the Philadelphia Zoo. But they don't have to feed these animals.

Puppet characters, courtesy of the Jim Henson Company, are educating children of all ages about the importance of conservation and saving wildlife in the 'X.tink.shun' exhibit.

The folks that brought us the Muppets have created Didi the Dodo, Igor the Tiger, Iggle the Eaglet and others at stages throughout the zoo, using live theatrical puppet presentations and performances to tell the story of endangered or threatened species.

Spokesbird Didi the Dodo, strategically sitting on top of a wooden crate, was introduced by Zoo President and CEO Vic Dewan, "The overall message is to bring about the extinction of x.tink.shun."

And Didi asks, 'Where were you in 1685, when we dodos were on the run?"

Noel MacNeal is a puppeteer, writer and consultant with the Jim Henson Company. "Jim himself always liked animals. In fact, one of his best friends was a certain frog that we all know."

Reported By Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio.

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