A Zoo Full of LEGO Animals? So Wild You’ll Do a Double Take
Months after quiet days brought on by pandemic closures, the San Antonio Zoo found an unforgettable way to welcome visitors back. Instead of relying only on live exhibits, it installed more than 30 life‑size animal sculptures built entirely from over three million LEGO bricks. Artist Sean Kenney and his team spent months shaping a playful outdoor gallery that blends art, patience, and wildlife wonder.
Baby Pandas
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Tucked into a green corner are baby pandas that look like they’re settling in for lunch. These little giants took 405 hours and 53,460 bricks to complete. The pose is so natural, you almost expect a paw to move.
Peacock
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Bright sunlight hits a LEGO peacock’s tail, and suddenly those layered plates seem to glow. Thousands of carefully chosen bricks combine blue, green, and gold to create that shimmer you see on real feathers. Stand in the right spot, and the tail seems to fan out even wider.
Buffalo
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A buffalo built from tens of thousands of bricks appears mid‑stride, as if ready to wander across the path. Designers added subtle brick shading to show muscle curves and the depth of the thick coat. A tiny bird perched on its back adds an unexpected touch of life.
Snow Leopard
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The snow leopard sculpture greets guests with a calm expression, almost like a smile. It stands on a rocky LEGO base, spotted patterns carefully arranged to mirror the real animal’s fur. The piece required hundreds of hours, with each spot mapped out for symmetry.
Bald Eagle
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A bald eagle spreads its wings like seconds from flight. Over 42,000 bricks form its layered feathers, carefully angled to catch light and shadow. From below, the wingspan seems endless, and visitors often pause to trace the shape with their eyes.
Ladybug
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The ladybug, small in scale but rich in detail, sits atop a giant LEGO leaf. Builders used bright red tiles dotted with black to give them a bold contrast. The curve of the back was created by gradually shifting brick layers, a tricky technique to pull off.
Tortoise
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Near the exhibit’s garden area, a slow‑moving tortoise made from thousands of bricks sits as though mid‑crawl. Its shell features interlocking brown and green pieces to copy the uneven pattern seen in nature. Sculptors added a tiny LEGO bird on its back to give the display a sense of interaction.
Mantis
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The giant mantis towers over nearby plants, bright green bricks forming long legs and angled arms. Its large head tilts slightly as if scanning the crowd, a clever choice that makes it feel alive. Textured bricks create the illusion of layered exoskeleton plates.
Chameleon
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A chameleon clings to a branch, and the colorwork on its body is a puzzle in itself. Different greens and blues swirl together to mimic that shifting tone the real reptile is known for. Its coiled tail shows off how far LEGO building can be pushed.
Lion
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The lion used 48,248 bricks and sat with a steady gaze as if watching over the zoo. Its mane features layered brown and tan elements that create depth without looking stiff. It’s strategically placed near the exhibit entrance, as if setting the tone for the rest of the tour.
Dragonfly
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Suspended above a small pond, the dragonfly seems weightless despite its size. Transparent bricks form delicate wings, and the long body shows a gradient of blue shades, which gives the sculpture a lifelike metallic look.
Dodo Bird
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Though long extinct, the dodo returns here in bright, blocky form. Builders referenced historic illustrations to get the shape right and gave it a rounded body and a slightly comical beak. The use of muted grays and whites makes it stand apart from the more colorful animals.
Jumping Koi
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Caught mid‑leap, the koi sculpture uses layered orange and white bricks to create the illusion of scales. The stillness of the water sells the sense of motion. Its placement near water features enhances the effect to make it look like part of the real pond.
Fox Chasing A Rabbit
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A playful scene tells the story of a fox pursuing a rabbit, both crafted from bricks. The fox’s orange coat is layered with darker tones to show depth, while the rabbit darts ahead with its ears back. This dynamic pairing adds a sense of story rather than a single figure.
Father Duck And Ducklings
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A duck leads a line of ducklings across the grass at the edge of a path. Each duckling is smaller but detailed, with careful placement of yellow bricks for a fluffy effect. The father’s posture tilts forward as though guiding them along.