Calgary Zoo's Dinosaurs Alive brings enormous T. Rex to Prehistoric Park
Tricia Lo | CBC News | Posted: March 16, 2016 11:35 PM | Last Updated: March 16, 2016
18 dinos that roar, poop and stomp will take over the exhibit Friday
It's probably the closest thing you'll ever get to living, breathing dinosaurs in Calgary.
Dinosaurs Alive returns to the Calgary Zoo Friday with robotic replicas that breath, move, roar and even blink as scientists believe real dinosaurs did 65 million years ago.
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The exhibit features 18 animatronic dinos, including a life-sized T. rex.
"She is actually so large that we had to use a massive crane to crane her over from Memorial Drive to get her into Prehistoric Park," said Roz Freeman, special events advisor at the zoo.
Get too close though, and you may be startled by her booming roar.
"Scientists and researchers actually reconstructed dinosaur skeletals with some skin and they blew air through them. That's what taught us how a dinosaur would sound," Freeman said.
Its thunderous cry has alarmed more than a few.
"A four-year-old could be scared, and another four-year-old could love it," Freeman said.
Those looking for a more immersive experience can delve into a massive pile of dino poop. Kids can even slide through a massive Tyrannosaurus rex skull.
Freeman said the zoo is thrilled to be bringing back the highly popular and educational exhibit for its second year.
"We can learn so much from dinosaurs and that can apply to how we protect populations of animals today."