A FAMILY of gigantic pterosaurs have flown into the grounds of West Midland Safari Park and made it their new home.

The group of quetzalcoatlus, with a wing span of around 11 metres, are the newest additions to the Park's Land of the Living Dinosaurs exhibit.

It was the largest animal to have ever taken to the skies - being so tall, it could have looked a giraffe in the eye and having the ability to walk on all fours, using its gigantic folded wings as front limbs.

It was believed that they had hollow, lightweight bones and powerful forelimbs which helped them to catapult themselves into the air. Once airborne, they would use their large wings to soar, using air thermals to keep them aloft.

Emily Brooks, head dinosaur keeper, said: "The addition of a group of new pterosaurs to our large group of dinosaurs is very exciting but is going to have its challenges.

"We are working very hard to build a comfortable home for our new residents, but quetzalcoatlus are three times bigger than a human, have a ginormous wingspan and can travel thousands of miles at a time, so if they do decide to go for a wander, there is not a huge amount we can do to stop them."

She added: "Our dinosaur keepers have been given specialist training to care for the largest known flying animal of all time and we have a mountain of food ready so they do not get tempted to have a nibble on some of our smaller dinosaurs.

"We are excited and a little nervous, but we are ready."

Quetzalcoatlus would have ruled the skies of what is now North America, during the Cretaceous period - so it is very likely it would have passed over the heads of pre-historic giants including Spinosaurus, triceratops and tyrannosaurus-rex.

Like their 38 new companions in the Land of the Living Dinosaurs exhibit, the family of quetzalcoatlus are animatronic - with moving eyes, mouth, neck and head which are accompanied by life-like noises.

To celebrate the arrival of the new family and the start of the summer season, West Midland Safari Park is hosting 'Explorers Half Term' - a two week event, running between February 11, and February 26, inviting families to take part in a whole host of exciting activities, including a quest to find the quetzalcoatlus's missing egg.

The Bewdley attraction reopens for its summer season on February 11.

For more information or to book tickets, visit wmsp.co.uk or call 01299 402114.