Dinosaurs Arrive Alive And In Good Health At Oregon Zoo

Dinosaur Keeper Forrest Jonson bravely unloads a dangerous megalosaurus at the Oregon Zoo. Megalosaurus and many other dinosaurs will soon stalk zoo visitors during the blockbuster "Dinosaurs!" presented by Wells Fargo. The exhibit runs May 17-Sept. 1, and features 25 animatronic prehistoric creatures that roar, snarl and move with lifelike ferocity.

Mayday! Mayday! The dinos are here! A ferocious-looking T.
rex and more than 20 of his prehistoric pals arrived at the Oregon Zoo today following a long journey from McKinney, Texas. These giants will form the zoo's blockbuster outdoor exhibit, "Dinosaurs!" presented by Wells Fargo, set to open May 17 and running through Labor Day.

Chilling prehistoric roars will soon reverberate through lush canopies, as zoogoers experience a trip back in time. Visitors will follow a trail through an ancient rain forest, surrounded by life-size animatronic dinosaurs that roar, snarl and move with realistic ferocity. Along the way, massive footprints signal the proximity of the most fearsome prehistoric predator of all: Tyrannosaurus rex. The path will also feature activity stations with fossil digs, photo-opportunity spots and identification posts geared to all ages.

Among the 25 animatronic creatures on display, visitors will discover a total of 14 species -- from the impressive brachiosaurus and the fierce T.
rex, to the 2-foot-tall compsognathus and the flying pteranodon. Young visitors may prefer the slow-moving herbivore species, along with several animatronic baby dinosaurs and dinosaur egg nests.

"T. rex is the star of the show, of course," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "Stegosaurus, triceratops, the long-necked sauropods and all the popular carnivores are all represented. And some dinosaurs are just so funky that we had to have them -- like the dome-headed pachycephalosaurus."

Each of the dinosaurs is built on a steel frame and covered with intricately painted foam-rubber skin. State-of-the-art electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs' grasping hands, menacing claws and gnashing teeth.
Strategically placed alternative paths will lead parents with younger visitors to activity stations, where they learn what these giants ate, how they cared for their young, what their relationships to other animals were like, possible reasons they became extinct and more.

 

Dinosaurs! Presented by Wells Fargo
This is going to be BIG

Immerse yourself in the wonders of prehistory, from the safety of the present. Explore an ancient rainforest and come face to face with gigantic moving dinosaurs. Dig for fossils, find dinosaur egg nests, and track a Tyrannosaurus rex, all while making your own dinosaur discoveries along the way.

All along the trail, animatronic dinosaurs roar, snarl and move with lifelike ferocity. They're not really hungry, so you're safe in pausing to learn what these giants ate, how they cared for their young, possible reasons they became extinct and more. Walk the path or take the train -- but don't miss it!

Family Fun for All Ages
The land of the dinosaurs is great place to have fun with your entire family! Activities include fossil digs, discovery stations -- and even a separate path for young children, who may not get quite the thrill out of Tyrannosaurus rex, but have a good time with the slow-moving, plant-eating dinosaurs.

Opening Date
May 17, 2008

Admission
$4 plus regular zoo admission

Size
47,600 square feet

Species (in order of presentation)
Parasaurolophus
Megalosaurus
Dilophosaurus
Compsognathus
Pachycephalosaurus
Rhamphorhynchus
Brachiosaurus
Stegosaurus
Triceratops
Apatosaurus
Deinonychus
Tyrannosaurus rex
Pteranodon
Iguanodon

About the Robot Dinosaurs
These giant mechanical dinosaurs were designed and built to scale by a team of scientists, artists and engineers. Each dinosaur is built on a steel frame and covered with intricately painted foam-rubber skin. Molds made from clay dinosaur sculptures are covered with liquid foam rubber to make each animal's skin look more realistic. State-of-the-art electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs' movements, complete with grasping hands, menacing claws and gnashing teeth.

Features
Audio tour
Got a mobile phone? Walk the trail with the guidance of the mildy eccentric but highly intelligent "Dr. Bones," who offers a virtual paleontologist's take on dinosaurs. The call is free; however, minutes do accrue.

Fossil dig
Kids are invited to make their own dinosaur discoveries using special tools.

Tyrannosaurus rex tracks
See how small your feet look next to the tyrant lizard king's footprint.

Dinosaur babies and egg nests
Find out how dinosaurs cared (or didn't) for their young.

Working robot presentation
Examine a partially deconstructed half-size Tyrannosaurus rex and find out what makes the robots come alive!

Plant and insect life presentations
Find out about plants that are out of this world -- and some that look remarkably familiar. Learn about 3-foot-long dragonflies and other extinct members of the insect world.

Extinction presentations
What happened to the dinosaurs? Why did some animals survive? Why are we currently experiencing extinctions?

Train ride
Catch sight of the dinosaurs from the dino train!

Simulator ride
Buckle up and prepare for a wild ride back in time.

Timelines
Discover the eras that produced the dinosaurs.

Oregon Zoo ¨ 4001 SW Canyon Rd. ¨ Portland, Oregon 97221 ¨ 503-226-1561