After the beast crossed the ocean from Japan on Monday, the Drumheller valley now has a breathing, moving, terrifyingly real tyrannosaurus rex roaring in the soon-to-open Fossil World on North Dinosaur Trail.
“It’s the best in the world,” tells Fossil World proprietor Don Chambers. It is a prime example of how far the animatronic scientists in Japan have come with technology, as the T-rex will move in stunning scientific realism, breathing, moving its eyes, jaw, and most of its seven metre long body. Designed by Kokoro Company Ltd., a animatronic Japan-based company, the T-rex literally brings the past to life. The London Natural History Museum helped the company in accurately portraying the subtle movements of the ancient beast, and the dinosaur is the only one of its kind in Canada. “Most of these robotic dinosaurs are touring... this one is to be permanent (at Fossil World),” Chambers said. The T-rex has been uniquely designed for Chambers, and according to Chambers the dinosaur “is so real, they give a warning that children under five may get scared seeing it. Its movements are incredibly smooth.” Every inch of the model has technology incorporated, with elastic skin and paint to allow movement, subtle movements of the body, blinking, and the accuracy of its movements. “For kids, it’s a memory. For adults, it’s entertainment,” Chambers says of the dinosaur, and also of Fossil World which plans to open May 7. “I’m explaining it as ‘Disney meets a history museum’,” Chambers said. As for a name, the T-rex will hopefully find a suitably savage name with a contest Chambers is planning once the World opens. It’s the first time Drumheller, and Canada will have a truly convincing dinosaur replication, “the best in the world.”
