Zoo workers raise awareness of animal protection by painting themselves as extinct animals. (Photo/Chinanews.com)

Zoo workers in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province, recently had their bodies painted to look like prehistoric animals to raise awareness of animal protection, Chinanews.com reported on April 8.

To raise awareness of protecting endangered animals in the wild, a zoo named Ling Ling Animal Kingdom in Xiamen ran a campaign with the theme “protecting rare animals” on April 8.

During the campaign, zoo workers were painted to look like extinct animals including the tyrannosaurus rex, dodo, great auk and Bali tiger, and then gathered in front of the zoo's giant panda pavilion. It took 8 hours to complete the look.

A body painter concentrates on his work. (Photo/Chinanews.com)

Tourists were also invited to experience the fun of body painting on site and have various rare animals painted on their hands, feet, and arms.

An animal-themed modern drama was also put on at the zoo during the campaign to show people how uncivilized behavior can affect the animals, calling on visitors to protect animals and mind their behavior while enjoying a day out at the zoo.

The zoo explained that the campaign was launched to raise awareness of environmental protection and animal conservation to safeguard the planet and the home of human beings.