There were no emergency plans
for a wild triceratops on the rampage because the zoo had no triceratops
exhibit, to say nothing of the fact that everyone believed them extinct. As
such, the zoo was forced to improvise on how to handle the furious beast. Sure,
the first steps were easy. Get people out of harm’s way. Keep people from
coming back in. Straight forward stuff. But then what?
The zoo called all the
dinosaur experts they could find, but their knowledge was all theoretical. Some
proved useful, some not so much. Facts regarding speed and strength were
relatively accurate, which helped zoo workers remain safe as they controlled
the situation. Dietary information was useful in very general terms. They knew
the beasts liked to eat plants and trees, but that didn’t necessarily mean they
were fond of the particular plants and trees native to the area. This greatly
diminished the zoo keepers’ ability lure the wild thing to a secure location.
And temperament? Who knew if the thing’s current rage was a fleeting thing,
brought about by finding itself in a strange new place and time, or was this
its nature?
All the zoo keepers could do
was get to a safe distance and observe, like proper scientists and researchers.
That’s when they noticed three facts that would be crucial to containing the
errant dinosaur. First, the thing was tiring itself out. They would be able to
act soon, but what to do? They only had a limited time to act, not enough time
to build a full on cage. Besides, who knew where it would finally fall asleep
or if they would be able to move it when it did? Second, they noticed that
though the dinosaur could charge and rampage with the best of them, it couldn’t
jump. Third, and most crucially, it was very vain about its bony nose, doing
its level best not to scuff up the polished shine it had. It didn’t seem like
much, but it was enough. They had a plan.
When the dinosaur finally
fell asleep, they rushed in and surrounded the beast with a small metal fence.
It installed quickly, didn’t take a lot of resources to pull together in an
emergency, and best of all, it contained the dinosaur. After all, its stubby
little legs couldn’t jump over the low fence and it didn’t dare risk scuffing
its nose bone breaking through.
- Originally mailed to M.B. in Texas
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