BODY WORLDS 3 at the California Science Center Announces International Unveiling of 16-foot Giraffe Specimen

Ostrich Plastinate Also Makes North American Debut in Record-Breaking Exhibit

LOS ANGELES, June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The record-breaking exhibition BODY WORLDS 3 & The Story of the Heart will unveil, for the first time anywhere, a 16-foot-tall plastinated giraffe. Also making its North American debut will be another long-necked rarity: an ostrich. The two new animal specimens will be revealed on Thurs., June 5 at the California Science Center.

Visitors will marvel at the giraffe's unique anatomy; the world's tallest land mammal has an unusually powerful heart and sophisticated cardiovascular system to support its body -- hooves to horns -- including its famously long neck. Plastination of the giraffe spanned 22,583 man hours. Gunther von Hagens, the creator of BODY WORLDS, noted that they learned new facts about giraffe anatomy during the process, which will be included in the exhibition display.

Joining the giraffe, the ostrich represents the largest and speediest -- although flightless -- bird. The ostrich specimen has previously only been displayed at the PLASTINARIUM in Guben, Germany. Through the engaging anatomy displays, visitors can compare the animals and learn how the ostrich reaches speeds of 40 miles per hour and could actually outrun a giraffe twice its height.

The giraffe and ostrich plastinates add a new dimension to the anatomy exhibit, highlighting each animal's distinct qualities while revealing what humans and animals have in common underneath the skin.

BODY WORLDS 3 is the latest installment of the original anatomical exhibition of real human bodies, which made its North American debut at the California Science Center in 2004. BODY WORLDS has now been viewed by more than 25 million people worldwide and is the most popular traveling exhibit ever hosted by the California Science Center.

WHEN: Thurs., June 5, 2008
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: California Science Center - 3rd Floor, Sky Court
700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037

VISUALS: Plastinated giraffe and ostrich specimens.

WHO: BODY WORLDS Creator Dr. Gunther von Hagens, BODY WORLDS Creative
and Conceptual Designer Dr. Angelina Whalley, California Science
Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rudolph and California Science
Center Sr. VP of Development & Marketing William Harris
(Spanish-language spokesperson).

NOTE: Please fax completed forms to (213) 744-2026 by 5:00 p.m.
June 4.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: BODY WORLDS 3; The California Science Center

CONTACT: Hillary Manning of BODY WORLDS 3, +1-213-744-7569,
h.manning@bw.plastination.com

Web site: http://www.bodyworlds.com/

2008-06-03 18:39:23 0376773 PRNEWSWIRE