Why dinosaurs are replacing zoo animals

[@mlgodzilla4206]

One thing that bothers me is when zoos use animatronics that aren’t that up to date like how are you going to educate the public when your zoo still uses frilled dilophosaurs and elephant footed ceratopsians One way I can see animal animatronics working is where a zoo can’t obtain a certain animal but still wants to showcase it

[@zooblether]

Yeah I don’t think I’ve seen an example of that. I’ve seen a few statues, but usually more symbolic and only to either say “here’s why we don’t keep them” or to say “historically we had species x, but they’re now phased out”. Nothing from an education or engagement angle.

[@toonrex2806]

In regards to aquariums, I can see animatronics being used in place of animals don’t do well in captivity such as great whites and orcas.

[@plfaproductions]

@@toonrex2806 how long until we use them to fidht each other? if the animals arent real puting them to fight is just a very expensive atraction

[@zooblether]

I could see this as an angle put forward in the discussion to remove whales and dolphins from captivity. But someone else made a very good point, in that there are so many animals, mammals, birds, fish, inverts, that removing say whales wouldn’t need to leave a gap, but rather could be used to represent another group of species which is currently under represented.

[@mixtheory1412]

Or one of those animals that just will never work out in a zoo or in captivity, like great whites or baleen whales

[@JacksonJDoyel]

Outdated animatronics is an issue - becomes Universal Studios over actually educating the public. Another issue that I heard from the Cincinnati Zoo was that their "Dino Zone," in the early 2000s was found to be very disruptive to the animals. Red pandas in particular were stressed out from the constant roaring.

[@zooblether]

That's something I hadn't considered! I've seen various zoos monitoring animals/sound levels during events, to track whether they are affecting animals during or after. Cancelling future events if necessary is one thing, but removing a whole dinosaur land is another. Would be interested to hear about zoos who had this issue and changed/removed audio etc. to ensure high animal welfare.

[@carminecdinoproductions]

@@zooblether Maybe have a walled area set up for some animatronic dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures!

[@carminecdinoproductions]

I’d love to see a different dinosaur attraction added to the Cincinnati Zoo that features life-sized models instead of animatronics!

[@mattvonwenden5405]

My input. To speak of these animal rights activists... one point I often hear them make is that - 'kids know a hell of a lot about dinosaurs, yet they have never seen a dinosaur in a zoo!' To which I rebut - Children do not perceive dinosaurs in the same way they do animals living today. Children treat dinosaurs as if they are mythical creatures or horrible monsters. This is what Jurassic Park and co fed into methinks. And also - aside from some random facts [of variable veracity] and perhaps some calculation-numbers... do kids really know much about dinosaur biology anyways? I think that one good way to present dinosaur in the zoo would be integration probably with birds - say you have some life-sized models of a few dinosaurs [though come to think of it, isn't that a very common thing across the country's farm parks and zoos?] and you have them nearby or inside the aviary of different birds, and visitors are prompted to see the similarities between them. Though what I long for is for a zoo in Angles' Land to have a real display of evolution. Bring out the horseshoe crabs, lungfish, axolotls and co... and have a real feel of being trapped in amber so to speak. If the Yanks can pitch up a 'museum' with animatronic dinosaurs alongside Adam and Eve inside with a petting zoo outside... then why can't there be more immersive evolution galleries as such. Regarding more elusive animals I think models could be interesting way to implement them. Golden moles, giant earthworms, colossal squids, giraffe weevils are all cool animals for the kids to read about but unreasonable to manage or display easily. For those sticklers models may be the thing. But as for everyone else......

[@theimmigrant7953]

For a long time Houston has dedicated a large portion of their zoo to animatronics. We’ve had Pleistocene animals, dragons, giant insects, mythical creatures, animals built from Lego, and of course dinosaurs. A part of me understands that this is not only extremely popular but also extremely profitable with minimal spending required. But another part of me also wishes that space could’ve been used better, that yard is right next to the zoo’s Pantanal exhibit which due to space issues had to cut and entirely phase out species like black caiman, maned wolf, and squirrel monkey who could’ve easily fit in that area. On the other hand though, I do believe modern animals as animatronics could help Houston a lot. Currently they have a running theme of using statues to represent species either not on display (coati, peccary, tamandua) or who they couldn’t feasibly obtain (frigate bird, marine iguana, blue footed booby). Most of these statues go completely unnoticed by guests so having them move and even produce noise would definitely catch people’s attention a lot more.

[@zooblether]

Yeah, the balance of animals vs "other stuff" is always a tricky one. You'd like to think animals are at a maximum, but I think often, from a visitor stand point, it could be either. So it's easier, requires less staff and ultimately requires less effort to have a non-animal based feature.

[@Baradagi]

I do generally find most "dinosaur parks" at zoos to be more about feeding into pop culture stereotypes than actually teaching the public true facts about these animals. Hell, one zoo in the UK has the Indominus rex on display, which'll likely misguide people into thinking it was a real species! However, I do think animatronic exctinct animals could work very well to represent recently extinct animals in geographically-themed areas. For example, a Siberian-themed area with reindeer, wolverines and eiders could feature an animatronic mammoth, or an Australian zone could have a Megalania replica (even better if its next to a monitor lizard enclosure). Heck, a Tasmanian devil exhibit with a thylacine animatronic would be a wonderful inclusion. If not, you could have them in taxonomically-themed exhibits, like a Gigantopithecus in a big ape complex or a Smilodon in a feline house. However, they MUST be educationally-oriented, so people don't go home thinking tigers evolved from Smilodons or something XDD

[@alexanderdragonheart2036]

I agree.

[@zooblether]

Yes! This is a great idea. Animatronics as an addition to “traditional exhibits” rather than as a stand alone “attraction”! Love this

[@UmbreonLuv1]

In my opinion, animatronic dinosaurs belong in musuem parks or such because you don't expect a lot of motion in musuems. We went to a "dinosaur zoo" in Utah and though they didn't move, just the scale and size alone made it very cool. But we went there to see dinosaurs. When I go to a zoo, I want to learn more about our current world and living animals rather than the past. It would be cool if maybe they had dinosaur models/robots that could show ancestry to the current, modern day animals in the zoo to show how they changed over time, but to me it feels jarring to see a lion and a t-rex in the same place.

[@plfaproductions]

despite heavily disagreeing, that evolutive history idea would be cool, but sadly the animatronics in question alrey show the true intentention behind this with their stuck in 2000s jurassic park look

[@william3100]

​@plfaproductions why do you disagree? I disagree too but I want to find a really good reason as to why the above comment is wrong.

[@jag_rex2412]

​@@plfaproductions Saying that they're stuck in the 2000s Jurassic Park era would be a undeserved compliments to those animatronics. Most of those things (even the Paleo accurate ones with feathers) look less real and organic than the animatronics and rubber suites seen in Jurassic Park. Accuracy be damned at least Jurassic Park Universal Studios ride have some dinosaurs that look and feel real unlike the crappy ones that are seen in zoos.

[@plfaproductions]

@@jag_rex2412 true, I didn't consider that because here in Brazil we have "the best in south america" and nothing else really

[@plfaproductions]

@@william3100 zoos are entertainment, it's like saying restaurants shouldn't be in zoos, it's there as a nice side thing that attracts more people to the place and many of the zoo problems museums also have, "too much noise" "something else should be there" "it's not their place" this perspective ignores the demand for it and the fact that business needs money to work, who will pay for the food if there isn't enhough people? It's the second dinomania and for the benefit of all animals housed in there, zoos must exploit, with the money you can expand an enclosure, buy medicine, plants and toys and most importantly money helps to pay the bills in hard times, a dinosaur park that gives 3 times it's energy bill in revenue is a safety net mainly to smaller zoos

[@bugsisland3061]

When I saw the animatronic dolphin I thought of how cool it would be to have animatronic versions of prehistoric marine creatures, now that would be a great use of this technology

[@plfaproductions]

imagine seeing a basilosaurus bot, or a mosasaurus bot, or a basilosaurus bot dueling a mosasaurus bot, why will people go to zoos when tech get that far?

[@rexyjp1237]

​@@plfaproductionscause its fun to look and learn about the animals.

[@plfaproductions]

@@rexyjp1237 you aren't learning much from captive specimens, once we get that tech we can practically simulate anything even how specimens behave in the wild, free a robot elephant with a traker and let it learn with living one's, repeat that a couple of times and make sure to replicate artificially the brain structure to the point living elephant's can't see the diferece, you will have an elephant that is completely maluble allowing visitors to get as close as they want and be safe also not needing colossal enclosures and other needs, if you can't tell the difference between bot and living does it really matter? If they can provide everything the living can and more (extinct, illegal or even impossible), would you really go to an animal exibint where you might not even see the critter when you can see from a great white to a Megalodon? I don't think so

[@jusjetz]

Until it becomes a spy drone from a foreign evil empire and or Terrorist Organizations.

[@590488]

The san diego zoo has an exhibit where it shows the animals with their prehistoric cousins

[@zooblether]

Cool, what sort of animals does it have?

[@FigmentJedi]

@@zooblether It's basically a "Ice Age creatures found in La Brea compared to living relatives" set-up for the Elephants and big cats.

[@zooblether]

Sounds cool, I’ll try and find some pictures!

[@Afrologist]

San Diego Zoo is the best zoo I've ever been to, that's after going to most Zoos in Western Europe.

[@STFUinternet]

I think as long as they don't take center focus, just stay as cool pop up timed exhibits. My son got excited to go to a specific zoo seeing they had dinosaurs, so we went and while he would be excited seeing them he still loved seeing the animals if not more. We went back when the exhibit had left because he already fell in love with the animals there. If they stay as fun tools to get engagement and people in the door, I'm fine with animatronics

[@zooblether]

I agree

[@erikm8372]

Zoos should do something to compare living birds with dinosaur animatronics wherever possible… I don’t see that anywhere. For example, featuring smaller animatronic pterosaurs (like _Rhamphorynchus_ or something) with toucans nearby (family Ramphastidae), as they likely had/have similar habits. Or _Psittacosaurus_ shown near extant Psittaciformes (parrots). Mosasaurs with Varanidae (monitors). Theropod carnivores have numerous extant bird options to choose from. _Struthiomimus_ with ostriches (genus _Struthio_ …) there are endless options.

[@zooblether]

Like this idea. Probably more so than stand alone “dinosaur exhibits”. BUT aside from teaching about evolution, is there a benefit? Would it not be better to use that space/interpretation to teach about threats/behavioural impact in the modern world?

[@neilchace1858]

I wish zoos would use animatronics like these in a more educational context. For example, incorporating dinosaur robotics into a bird/reptile themed area to convey the evolutionary relationships between these animals, or an exhibit comparing the past mass extinctions to the current extinction crisis. I could see animatronic animals being successful in very limited circumstances- specifically in themed sections to represent species which can't ethically and/or legally be acquired or displayed. For example, Houston Zoo has a Galapagos themed exhibit, but given Ecuador's strict import/export laws it is missing several species integral to the Galapagos ecosystem such as marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies. Using statues and/or animatronics of these species could be a successful way to make the theme more cohesive.

[@zooblether]

Yeah I like the bird idea. Not sure I’ve seen it done well. I know people hear “dinosaurs ARE birds” but not sure if they actually realise the evolutionary link.

[@ivanlol7153]

I think it could work if they got some accurate models(Saw some half feathered dromeosaurs and egg stealing oviraptors) Would also work better if they split up the animatronics into sections Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous, and possibly different places on the globe. it's gonna be hard for people to digest the fact that different dinosaurs lived at different times and different places when the zoo displays a spinosaurus and allosaurus at the same spot.

[@zooblether]

Funnily enough I recently saw a meme with a trex on an electric unicycle. Tag line with words to the effect of this is more accurate than a trex with a stegosaurus in respect to the time they lived. As an “educated” person I sure felt silly when I had to google to see if it was right!

[@Pearl.Is.Autistic.SU.900]

Well, this idea is actually a great idea - for zoos without live exotic animals. I am all for animatronic zoos. Animatronic zoos are an excellent idea in place of live animals because most, if not all, exotic animals hate seeing people. If you’re trying to conserve animals and keep them wild, they can’t have any interaction with the guests because they will get used to seeing people and they should be afraid of them. That’s how the Dodo and other birds died out. And most exotic animals don’t like seeing guests all day constantly goggling and mooning at them all day long. Primates especially don’t. If I were an animal in that exhibit I would be extremely stressed too seeing people staring at me. Animatronics are not alive, so they are fine with people staring at them. I thought this video would actually cover my concerns, but it was mostly about dinosaur animatronics, which is okay, in a non-live zoo. And they need to actually make the dinosaurs actually accurate if they plan on it being educational rather than being carbon copies of the not very accurate Jurassic Park series. From what you showed in the pictures. Most theropods had feathers, and not one of the theropod dinosaurs shown had feathers. And they were roaming the park and that’s probably why people were scared of them. If you want it to look good and have people not be scared they have to be enclosed. Make the enclosures look like a real prehistoric exhibit. Create extinct plants and trees, use glass to separate the people from the animatronics. I would also add bird animatronics as well, since birds and dinosaurs cohabited. And other extinct animals existing in the same time period and location, don’t just scatter a t-rex and velociraptor in the same area. They would never meet. And same goes for animatronic zoos replacing live animals. This is a really great idea, especially for primates and other extremely sensitive animals. And great for large animals like elephants, orcas, and dolphins. In fact, taxidermy is a great idea as well, as long as it’s done ethically and professionally for looking purposes. And Hansa creates animal animatronics, too. Plus with animal animatronics you can get up close without biting and eating or stress, or put them behind glass if people are gonna be scared of them. But this video did not answer my concerns. For example, I would’ve liked a detailed explanation if it was possible on how the ANIMAL animatronics would replace the live animals, I was not interested in the dinosaur animatronics. History is great, but to get people to care about our environment, you need replicas of actual living endangered animals and plants. There is so much to talk about, this comment does not cover everything I would like to hear, neither does a short video like this. It’s a very interesting and nuanced topic of conversation and I think it needs to be brought up more, speaking for animal and plant conservation and welfare is important.

[@GraniteGhost778]

Is this actually new? I remember seeing animatronic dinosaurs at zoos when I was a kid and that was 20 years ago. I think my only real complaint about this is when minimal effort is put into the exhibits, or when the animatronics are clearly out of date. I also think that in cases where zoos are used for conservation purposes should minimize the cost and space allocation for animatronics of any kind. The robots can be cool, but a zoos principle purpose should focus on conservation and education of our current natural world.

[@zooblether]

Definitely not new, but certainly increasingly popular, and presumably cheaper. As for animal animatronics, the technology is constantly improving. As with the complaints about inaccuracy in dinosaurs, we know what a giraffe for example looks like, a “poor” giraffe animatronic would look terrible, but robotics has improved to the point it’s possible, maybe just not cost effective, yet.

[@SeagraveSerpentarium]

If I want to see detailed depictions of extinct creatures that reflect our best current understanding of their biology then I'll go to a natural history museum. If I want to be wowed by a big impressive and maybe even scary dinosaur animatronic I'll go to a theme park. I could see the benefits of using animatronics in zoos but only very sparingly before they start to detract from what I'm getting out of the overall experience, at least for me personally. As for species like cetaceans where keeping them in captivity for life is pretty much just outright inexcusable, I'm fine with them just being absent. There's so much diversity on this planet and so many incredible species that do well in captivity, it's hard for me to see an argument for using space those animals could occupy just for an animatronic that would be more appropriately exhibited at a museum or theme park.

[@zooblether]

I like that thought. That if an animal isn't/shouldn't be present them move on to something else. You're right, there are so many species. I know a few zoos who have elephant statues for example, with a sign stating their collection doesn't have the space to house them appropriately. It never occurred to me that they needn't bother saying anything, instead use the space for a species you can house.

[@MrWanapon]

No one should replace real animals with robots, zoos are for helping endangered species!

[@AgsmaJustAgsma]

The one advantage I see in using animatronics in zoos are very, very specific circumstances for animal enrichment, such as, for example, an oxpecker exhibit. An animatronic wilderbeest with tiny holes with food in them could help stimulate the birds' natural behavior while the visitors get to see them in action, albeit in an artificial environment. Then again, oxpeckers aren't a particularly rare bird species and you wouldn't shove a whole wilderbeest or a rhino inside an aviary. Like I said, very specific circumstances, but here's an idea worth tossing around.

[@1fishmob]

Highly doubt it. Properly run, approved zoos seek to bring awareness and maintain populations of wildlife, including some very endangered ones. The animatronics are most likely only going to be used to educate people about those which are already extinct. And that's ultimately the issue with animatronics; if you just replace the real flesh& blood animal, then whose going to help maintain populations, where do the captive animals go, and more importantly, wouldn't this only make people become less attached to the real, irreplaceable animals themselves now that they CAN be outright replaced?

[@StarGiraffinum]

I still prefer real living animals so hopefully not.

[@zooblether]

Yeah I definitely don’t see them as a replacement! There’s places that could just be models and animatronics, but zoo do much more than that!

[@d.s.mokrys_art]

i would love to use extinct animal animatronics near enclosures with there closest living relative.

[@Nook_Miis]

if it were up to me I'd use the dinosaurs to remind people how long some types of animals have been around like like paddle fish and lung fish lived with giant arthropods and sturgeons showed up during the Jurassic with Allosaurus, lemurs show up during the cretaceous, also all of the modern animals we see today were around during the last ice age so a few period accurate fossil replica's would also work to this end.

[@zooblether]

Yeah I think that’s a good use. Saw a meme recently of a T-Rex on an electric unicycle. Point being it’s more accurate to show that than a T-Rex fighting a stegosaurus in terms of their span through time. Our grasp of time in an evolutionary sense is wildly inaccurate

[@themesoceneofficial8559]

They’ve had these in the Detroit Zoo for YEARS, even during the early 2000s

[@BirboBirbums]

I think an animatronic cetacean park would be kinda sick, tbh. I remember when the dolphin came out, it seemed like such a better idea for "dolphin riding" experiences, and trick shows, while still being able to educate the public about the real possibility of losing many of these species. Not only that, but the possibilities would be endless! You could have anything from vaquita to humpback whales, if you really wanted to. Put them in diorama-style tanks, program some basic "behaviours" people can observe, or that park guides can even demonstrate with a controller. Offer people the ability to see these animals in scale, in real life, and make them fall in love enough to protect the real ones in our oceans, without having to keep them in tanks. The biggest cost would really be the upkeep, especially for something kept under water for several hours, or longer. But technology keeps advancing, so who knows.

[@danielmalinen6337]

In Finland, Korkeasaari, Ähtäri and Ranua zoos support the reservation of international wild animals, but the income they generate funds the protection and health care of local wild animals. For example, you never know if an injured squirrel, fox, rabbit, swallow, magpie or swan needs a veterinarian. The situtation is kinky and we are stuck with it, especially when Zoos operate with minimal income so they don't drive customers away with ticket prices and because wild animals have no owner to pay the vet bills for the animals themselves.

[@VyCanisMajoris3]

As someone hoping to be a zookeeper after i finish my education i fucking hope not-

[@zooblether]

I think you’ll be ok. I think you may see more during your career. But as an addition to your role, not a replacement!

[@Inflatablerexguy]

Me when you said dinosaur no longer exists: SHUT!!! BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS, THEY EVOLVED FROM DROMEASAURS

[@pilkers2]

They’re obviously referring to non avian dinosaurs

[@Afrologist]

Still not entirely sold on this, especially with their foot & hip morphology being completely unlike those of other maniraptorans or theropods in general. Paleontologists are so keen to prove that Aves are derived from Theropods that they completely handwave several traits that they claim conveniently developed after the fact (literally ornithischia means "bird-hipped")

[@SyxisPrime]

There’s a difference between the neoavas and things like megatheropods, Sauropods, Ornithopods, Thyrephora, Pachycephelosaurs, and Hadrosaurs. But in order to not convolute regular conversation, we refer to birds as birds, and non-avian dinosaurs as dinosaurs. We know birds are also dinosaurs, most people, especially someone who is talking about zoos also knows that fact and creates a short hand so we don’t have to spend as time as long as this comment to explain it.

[@christosgiannopoulos828]

I feel like animatronics fit better in museums than zoos. Like they could be a better more interactive alternative to taxidermized animals. Because at the end of the day that's what they are. Replicas of animals that are set up in a specific way with no spontaneous behavior what so ever

[@zooblether]

Yeah I think seeing behaviour as a visitor is what we all hope for in most instances.

[@jacobcox4565]

It'd be so cool if there were animal animatronics were super advanced and lifelike, so much so that you couldn't tell the difference.

[@cryssbestia6733]

As a big prehiatoric fauna enjoyer I find this pretty weird, if I want to see dinosaurs in, I go for the bird exhibit. If I want to see non avian dinosaur, i go to a museum Even in my local small zoo, which I've been visiting since I was a kid, a couple of animatronics have appeared for some time, at least they don't take up too much space

[@zooblether]

I think that a good take “they don’t take up too much space”. If it adds to the zoo for some visitors and doesn’t impact on the key missions or welfare, then have at it!

[@Dinoramascuplts-Tyrex]

I hope they bring a dinosaur exhibit to my local zoo (Please don’t ask as I prefer internet privacy) But I’d definitely go see it. Also they’re just so interesting

[@zooblether]

Your name gives it away that you’re a fan! Haha.

[@Dinoramascuplts-Tyrex]

@@zooblether no I meant what my local zoo is, no I make it widely known I love Mesozoic life

[@zooblether]

Haha I got you! Hopefully some dinosaurs pop up locally to you soon!

[@Dinoramascuplts-Tyrex]

@@zooblether I hope so

[@M-rex123]

I mean- yk kids love them

[@parkersanderson4156]

Imagine the Elephant odyssey at san diego zoo but instead of having statues of the extinct relatives of the animals, they were animatronics instead

[@trex2251]

In my zoo+dino museum, kids are much more interested in the real animals and scared or bored by the dinosaurs.

[@VelociRaptor7586-cw7fy]

Nerd ahh kids 🤣

[@zooblether]

Yeah scared is an issue. “Simulated fear” is a massive issue with dinosaur animatronics. As many others have stated, there is a lack of “normal/boring” behaviour from them.

[@ShadowTigerYT]

Jurassic Park could be a possibility?

[@zooblether]

I think the scientists are still preoccupied with whether or not they could…

[@matthewzito6130]

I don't think animatronics will ever replace live zoo animals. Anyone who thinks so, must have a pretty low opinion of zoo visitors. However, it would be interesting to see a display of animatronics featuring recently extinct like the Quagga and Tasmanian Tiger with descriptions of where/how they lived and why they went extinct (overhunting, habitat loss, introduced species, etc.). I think this would help illustrate the importance of protecting living species facing similar threats.

[@zooblether]

This would be a cool idea. And much more relevant than dinosaurs from millions of years ago!

[@herpderp3916]

What's the point of going to a zoo without animals? You may as well stay home and watch a nature documentary. Zoos might be flawed but one of their most important functions is to give the public direct contact with the natural world and get them invested in conservation. A zoo full of animatronics sounds like the most depressing, disconnected thing I can imagine, just one more way to separate humanity from nature.

[@FAD4LIFE94]

If they're animatronics I assumr you could touch them or ride them or hunt them without causing any harm to a real animal or putting yourself in danger. Imo it sounds like a fun theme park but not very educational

[@damian5528]

I like seeing an animatronics that resemble dinosaurs & other prehistoric/extinct animals, they can teach people about evolution & extinction as long as they don’t upset real animals. However, they should be scientifically accurate & should be laid out spaciously & not cluttered, also the layout should represent different periods of time in order. Rather than just setup a Lost World scenario, tho I wouldn’t mind a Jurassic Park scenario. As for animatronics that resemble modern animals, well…..I don’t know how I feel about that?

[@reesearmstrong912]

It’ll be fine

[@chelisue]

I hope so. Animals aught to be in their natural habitats

[@kausalkraken5951]

I want to see dinosaurs over real life animals at zoos. Why do you think jurassic park is so popular?

[@miguelvillanuevabello8000]

You understand the whole point of the movie is to dont make a dinosaur zoo right ?

[@herpderp3916]

Then you don't actually want to see dinosaurs. You want to see ugly, bloodthirsty movie monsters.

[@stephenraynes2148]

This is not a trend in my area of the world. They are very separate "attractions"

[@That_OneGuy46]

So, instead of going to another country for a holiday, should we just build fake tourist attractions in our own country? I feel like an animatronic zoo would be the equivalent of this (specifically if they replaced animals that are still alive with robots). The reason it works with dinosaur is because that's the only way you can see them, if people new they could go somewhere and see a real dinosaur, they'd definitely be going there instead. Many people would loose interest in zoos

[@zooblether]

Think I probably agree. I do think the odd use, in an otherwise traditional zoo could work nicely though!

[@chaliceflame1314]

I'd have no need to have a theme park within a zoo. I'm plenty busy observing live animals. I guess I could see this as extra entertainment for urban kids that could go to the local zoo on a regular. As lon gas the animatomnic didn't take away funds from taking care of the animals, space for them and stress the animals.

[@zooblether]

Taking away funds is tricky one. There is only one pot of money, so the question is, will they bring in more than they cost. And if they do, is it still right? There’s lots of ways to make money that would not be accepted in zoos, but this is one that seems to be, atleast for now.

[@6xlord907]

I like the idea of a pure dinosaur park with static dino statues purely focused on education, to let people experience the scale of the animals and show them in a natural environment instead of recycling scary movie props, which most of the examples you gave remind me of. Mixing dinosaurs with zoos however, nah. The two zoos I went to a lot as a kid have rides. Comparing their state 30 years back to today, the entertainment section kept growing more and more. While the husbandry improved a ton, even though they're both in a rural area and have plenty of space, the animal exhibit portion has remained static or gotten less. So I have zero confidence in most zoos to actually balance the two in a reasonable way, instead using aniomatronics as a cheap option to entertain kids with little to no educational value.

[@IronheartStudios]

I'd honestly rather the dinosaurs be real too

[@goblez5900]

HUR HUR HURHUR HUR, HUR HURHUR HURHURRRRRR

[@josh-themighty9967]

My only problem with dinosaue robots in zoos like what other people said is they're all the same style. They're not scientifically accurate representations of the animals they're pop culture Jurassic park knock offs. And to top it off the carnivores are made to look scary trying to eat visitors in some instances instead of showing realistic behaviour such as idk one trying to drink? Scratching itself against a tree. Even sleeping how many times can you say you've seen a robot dinosaur sleeping? It jusr makes the dinosaurs look like monsters instead of real animals.

[@zooblether]

Definitely a problem with dinosaur animatronics. Wonder how much of that is from the zoos themselves or simply what is available from the suppliers… as an “exhibit” though it is definitely something that should be considered

[@chancegivens9390]

I think it could definitely help the conservation side of things, but do they need animatronics? Absolutely not. The real animals are far more interesting.

[@Elsantodio]

If they wanted dinosaurs they atleast could’ve made real ones instead of animatronics

[@DinomanMayorClint]

Instead of trying to revive dinosaurs why not creating technologically advanced dinosaurs which they move on their own, it'll be better than reviving them. Would be even better if someone opens up a park that have robotic monsters worldwide.

[@enzolopes220]

I'm becoming increasingly annoyed with these animatronic dinosaurs taking up valuable space that could be used for more endangered species. Like, come on, instead, make robots out of animals extinct by humanity or something... Why dinos? Kids will simply ignore existing animals because these scaly giants look cooler and are much larger than the average mammal!

[@CAT_SAYS_NO]

So sadly inaccurately constructed dinosaurs.

[@Not-Ap]

This isn't new at all... They did this back in the 80s and 90s in Zoos. It didn't take over then and it's probably not going to now. They are interesting exhibits though.

[@zooblether]

I think 80-90s to now we have had a vast improvement in the tech. For dinos shipping low quality from China seems to be the norm, but most people don’t know what “right” would look like. For animals, people have a better idea of what it should look like, so quality would have to be higher. And today it is possible…

[@jag_rex2412]

In my opinion dinosaur animatronics do not belong in zoos as much as I love dinosaurs there's a time and place for everything and the half-ass animatronic dinosaurs that well... forget accurate they don't even look organic or even real, they look out of place in our own world. If you're going to add animatronic dinosaurs into a zoo invest as much money as possible to make the animatronics look just as organic and just as active as the Jurassic Park animatronics. Otherwise there's literally no point of adding them accuracy be damned. And another thing shut up their constant roaring because it's clear to Me, the guests, the workers and the animals that no one likes that annoying generic dinosaur sound being played every 15 seconds or so.

[@zooblether]

Interesting take about the noise, I’ve seen surveys being done during “special events” measuring both sound levels and animal behaviour, but never been present when similar has been done with “new” dinosaur exhibits, but I’m sure good zoos do this to determine the impact of noise on their animals either formally or atleast reactively upon observations from keepers.