At 8pm on Saturday night 10 giant animal light sculptures will parade down Macquarie Street to the Sydney Opera House, escorted by a cast of school children who will dance, sing and light up the streets. 

Among them will be Tarro’s year four-five-six class, flying the flag for the regent honeyeater – a critically endangered bird Taronga is conserving near Cessnock.  

“The kids are really excited to be able to tell others they were a part of history,” their teacher Allison Bourke said.

“They’ve been really motivated over the holidays to learn all the dance moves.”

Tarro was selected to be a part of the parade after auditioning for Sydney’s School Spectacular earlier in the year.

NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman praised the conservation work of the zoo over the last century across the globe.