Cecil the lion and other endangered animals are projected on to Empire State Building in stunning New York light display

  • Pictures of 160 animals shown in images more than 350 feet tall and 180 feet wide on the landmark's south side
  • Forty projectors on a rooftop used to broadcast the picture on more than 33 floors for three hours Saturday night
  • Show was part of promotion for upcoming Discovery Channel documentary about animals facing extinction

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The Empire State Building broadcast images of endangered animals to New Yorkers on Saturday in a video projection said to be the first-of-its-kind.

It is not known exactly how many people saw the display, though large crowds of spectators stopped in Manhattan intersections gazing at the pictures of the building's south side and taking photos with their smart phones.

At one point an image of Cecil the Lion, whose death at the hands of an American hunter last month caused international outrage, was broadcast in a picture more than 350 feet tall and 180 feet wide.

In total 160 species of endangered animals including birds, tigers, leopards and bears were shown at the event, which was meant to spark conversations about mass extinction, according to NBC New York.  

The images were put up over 33 floors of the building for three hours using 40 projectors stacked together at a rooftop two blocks away.

The landmark is decorated with lights of different colors for various holidays, though organizers said Saturday night marked the first time that such as video projection had been done.

The show was organized as part of a promotion for a new Discovery Channel documentary, Racing Extinction, which is set to air in December. 

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Cecil the Lion, whose death in early July caused international outrage this week, was the most famous animal broadcast on the south side of the Empire State Building Saturday night in an event to raise awareness of endangered animals

It is not known how many people saw the display, which was clearly visible from many streets and intersections in Midtown Manhattan

In total 160 images of endangered animals were broadcast on the landmark building for three hours as many New Yorkers watched from rooftops

The show was organized as part of a promotion for a new Discovery Channel documentary, Racing Extinction, which is set to air in December

The show was organized as part of a promotion for a new Discovery Channel documentary, Racing Extinction, which is set to air in December

The event was designed to draw attention to the plights of different varieties of endangered animals, including primates and marine creatures

The Empire State Building celebrates many holidays and special events by changing the colors of its lights, but organizers of Saturday's event said that the video projection was first-of-its-kind

The Empire State Building celebrates many holidays and special events by changing the colors of its lights, but organizers of Saturday's event said that the video projection was first-of-its-kind

The pictures were created with a set of 40 projectors on a rooftop two blocks south of the building. Above, groups of pedestrians watch the display

The pictures were created with a set of 40 projectors on a rooftop two blocks south of the building. Above, groups of pedestrians watch the display

Many spectators who caught the show took pictures of themselves as images of endangered images changed on the screen-like surface of the tower

Many spectators who caught the show took pictures of themselves as images of endangered images changed on the screen-like surface of the tower

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