Repairs begin on Durham dino

DURHAM, N.C. — The Museum of Life and Science has hired a Greenville sculptor to help reassemble a dinosaur model beheaded by vandals.

The brontosaurus, part of the museum's old dinosaur trail, lost his head in May. The head was found two days later off Preston Andrews Road in northern Durham County.

The museum chose not to press charges against the culprits but has asked them to make restitution. Those funds will go toward the necessary repairs, a museum spokeswoman said.

Kenneth “Tripp” Jarvis plans to reconstruct a four-foot section between the body and the neck, reattach the neck and head to the body, repair the mouth area and patch holes in the body of the model.

The museum and community members are raising money to make up the balance needed to complete the project. Bronto Software has pledged a $2,000 challenge grant to encourage community fundraising. The museum got a $1,000 donation from an anonymous donor and has collected more than $1,500 in additional pledges.

The Northgate Park Neighborhood Association Bronto Project Fund has received more than $400 in contributions. Bronto Project chairwoman Nancy Rizzo said her group plans to sell "Save the Bronto" T-shirts with proceeds to be used for "additional improvements and ongoing maintenance of the Bronto."

Shirts will be available for purchase Saturday at the Durham Farmer's Market and Sunday at Elmo's. To see the design of the shirt and for details about sales locations, go to www.savethebronto.com.

To make a tax-deductible contribution to help repair the brontosaurus, make your check payable to Museum of Life and Science and note “Bronto” on the memo line. Send to Museum of Life and Science, 433 Murray Ave., Durham, NC 27704. To donate online, go to www.lifeandscience.org and go to “Donate and Support – Special Projects." To make a gift with VISA or MasterCard, call the Museum at 919-220-5429.