PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Six traveling trolls are visiting the Philadelphia Zoo for the next 2 ½ months with a mission to inspire humans to take better care of nature.
Six colossal troll sculptures are located in various places on the Zoo grounds. The 15-foot sculptures are made from reclaimed wood. Each one has a name, personality and conservation message. Guests use their zoo key, purchased in the gift shop, to turn on a story box situated next to each troll to hear it.
“I’m Ronja Redeye, and I was selected by my tribe of traveling tolls to welcome you to the Philadelphia Zoo,” says one cheerfully.
“Try this: Rethink to minimize trash. When you’re on the go, bring a travel cup, a tote bag or water bottle instead of relying on single-use plastics that pollute.”
Maria Bryant, a spokeswoman with the Zoo, says the trolls’ message is simple: Protecting the natural world will protect humankind.
“At the Zoo, we are always talking about ways how us humans can protect and save wildlife,” said Bryant. “Well, the trolls are coming here to tell us humans how we can save ourselves and, in doing so, [save] the planet and protect wildlife.”
They’re good trolls.
“They are very good trolls,” promises Bryant. “They are not the trolls hiding under the bridge, that’s for sure.”
Another troll, Rosa Sunfinger, wants visitors to create habitats for pollinators, like bees, by cultivating plants native to the region.
“Stop by the bird house,” Bryant said. “You’ll run into Ibbi Pip, who is actually carrying a whole basket of birdhouses — because part of her mission is to create space for wildlife”
The exhibit, called “Thomas Dambo’s Trolls: Save the Humans,” is at the Zoo through April 15.