‘Jurassic World’ comes alive at Philadelphia exhibit
Based on the blockbuster dinosaur movie franchise, the experience mixes the vibe of a theme park with the backstory of science, but the big — like, really big — attraction is the animatronic dinosaurs, some measuring over 24 feet tall.
The lifelike, life-size dinosaurs were designed by the Creature Technology Co., which created the enormous creatures for the “Walking With Dinosaurs” arena shows.
A family-friendly Gentle Giants Petting Zoo also promises interactions with a baby pachyrhinosaurus and its 29-foot-long mother.
The U.S. debut of the exhibit offers a look inside a raptor training paddock, like the one used by Chris Pratt’s character in 2015’s “Jurassic World.”
Exhibit organizers worked closely with paleontologist Jack Horner, one of the best-known dinosaur researchers in the world, to help get the science right.
An educator guide offers ways to look at the exhibit through scientific eyes on topics including: ethics in science; climate change; DNA and genetics; and extinction.
Brave visitors can even stick an arm into a pile of dinosaur dung to feel its squishy, warm interior as a way to learn about identifying animals by studying their leavings.