Wind-powered animal stalks the streets of Exeter

The beast has been prowling through the city's retail district

A huge wind-powered animal sculpture has been roaming the streets of Exeter city centre.

The 10m-long mechanical “strandbeest” – meaning beach animal – has been prowling through Exeter’s retail district, Princesshay, after walking on Exmouth beach the weekend before.

The sculpture, named Ventosa Siamesis, has been designed by Dutch artist Theo Jansen, and is made from scrap plastic tubing and water bottles. 

Recycled plastic bottles containing air are pumped up to a high pressure by the wind using several bicycle pumps and plastic tubing, driven by wings at the front of the sculpture that flap in the breeze. After a few hours, when the bottles are full, the caps are removed and the wind emerges at high speed and is used to produce movement in the frame.

If the wind is very strong, the strandbeest hammers its feet into the sand, and, if it goes too close to the sea, it can detect this and move in the opposite direction. Sensors allow it to respond to the environment.