THE VIRTUAL BAT CAVE AND ITS INHABITANTS FORM PART OF THE ZOO'S NEW NIGHT LIFE

As Brian Heppell explains: "The Zoo wanted to give visitors the sensation of walking down a staircase from day to night with bats on the wing around them. Our solution was to design and construct a series of 3D bat shapes using double-sided blackboard vinyl. This looks leathery, just like a real bat's wing. Because it's flexible, we could bend each bat into a life-like flying position and fix it to the dark blue staircase drop with Velcro spots. To give movement, we used 'shelf wobbler' attachments for some bats so that they're free of the wall and free to flitter in the draught."

The 200+ bats also ranged in size from 50mm to 500mm, each one shaped and positioned individually by Glyphics' display specialists. "This gives it perspective" says Brian. "You get the feeling of a cloud of bats emerging from a cave at night - in the best David Attenborough traditions - except there's no risk of getting them caught in your hair."

The batty installation is just one of a number of recent projects that Glyphics have worked on with the Zoological Society of London team. Others include signage and graphic design solutions for the Zoo's new Rainforest Life and Animal Adventure zones and the Butterfly Paradise.