Dinosaur exhibit roars,
takes hold of museum
VERONICA YANKOWSKI A Tyrannosaurus rex greets visitors of the Monmouth Museum’s Dinopark II exhibit with a big smile — or is it?
MIDDLETOWN — Coming face-to-face with a towering Triceratops is a distinct possibility on the Brookdale Community College campus these days.
And when it breathes heavily, glares and lets out a robust roar, you may just jump out of your shoes and start running for your life. So, make sure you’re standing next to someone friendly because you may just latch onto them in an unconscious vise grip hold. And scaring small children with your own screams is something else you may need to temper. That’s how lifelike the Dinopark II exhibit is at Monmouth Museum, which is located on the Lincroft campus.
And through June 23, about 14 realistic rubbery Mesozoic Era monsters can be seen hanging around in true-to-habitat simulated environments in the makeshift dinosaur park. They’re near life-sized, beautifully creepy and seem quite alive for 200 million-year-old creatures. Despite the literally dark descent into ancient times the exhibit takes you through, you can even see and hear the dinosaurs breathing as their eyes appear to follow you.
It’s no wonder the automated giants are so lifelike — each model mimics real fossil depictions and its movements match h paleontological research.
VERONICA YANKOWSKI A friendly looking dinosaur peers out of his habitat at the Monmouth Museum’s Dinopark II.
Developed by Kokoro, Los Angeles, the figures move in subtle motion via computer technology and pneumatic valves that cause the huffing and puffing under all that rubber to look like a real giant lizard that breathes and could bite your head off if it chose to.
There are even mommy dinosaurs protecting their nests filled with eggs and hatchlings. Among the critters you’ll see are a Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops with her young, Corythosaurus and Pachycepha-losaurus.
In addition to the dinosaurs themselves, children can enjoy an interactive educational room in which they can learn a little more about the gentle and fierce giants. They’re guaranteed to either stare in amazement or let out a shrill scream or two. Adults will get plenty of their own jolt and be just as amazed.
The Dinopark II exhibit will be open to the public Mondays through Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Admission is $6. Children under 2 are free. School visits may be scheduled during the week from 9:30 to 2 p.m.