Jackson Bell
Families and other Los Angeles Zoo patrons are getting up-close looks
at dinosaurs in their prehistoric terrains during a special exhibit
running through Thanksgiving weekend.
About 18 motorized dinosaur models roared, grazed and protected
their brood at "Destination: Dinosaurs at the Los Angeles Zoo," a
six-month exhibit that will close Nov. 21.
"The zoo is all about saving wildlife and conservation," General
Curator Mike Dee said. "An exhibit featuring dinosaurs is a reminder
to us all that animals can go extinct, and we need to help save
animals before that happens."
Children and parents gathered Friday afternoon to watch the
24-foot Tyrannosaurus rex growl and swing his head and tail. In
addition, Maiasaura, with a name that means "good mother," looked
over her eggs as they hatched. And a full-sized pteranodon flew
overhead.
The dinosaurs -- made out of rubber and enhanced by black lights
-- might have looked real, but they weren't fooling 5-year-old Joshua
Shook.
"This is cool, but everyone knows that dinosaurs don't live
anymore," said Joshua, a Yorba Linda resident who begged and pleaded
for his parents to take him to the exhibit.
The exhibit also includes a dinosaur puppet show called "Harry and
the Tyrannosaurus rex," Cretaceous Crafts for children, dinosaur
storytelling and the Dinosaur Evolution Maze.
But 5-year-old Sarah Guadagno's main interest was the motorized
dinosaurs.
"I like them because they're big and they make lots of noise,"
said Sarah, a Northridge resident.
