Go back to ESLpodTV

Go to Rikai.com Japanese

Go to Rikai.com Spanish

This is beautiful. On any safari you look for the waterhole. They’re a magnet for animals, and on a dinosaur safari it’s no different. And this must be the best chance for me to find evidence of the giant claw.

The thing about water holes being a magnet for wildlife. The predators know that too. In Africa lions wait for zebras coming to drink. This could be a Tarbosaurus coming down, waiting for prey, so we have really got to watch our step here.

Look what I’ve found – a claw – I think it’s a Therizinosaurus. And there is a whole skeleton. Let’s see what else I can find. There we go. It’s pretty heavy.

Look at the size of it. I’m 6ft 2in (190cm?) and it actually dwarfs me. And this is just the front leg. And to be truthful, I’m actually a little nervous about meeting a creature with claws like this. They must be for disemboweling prey. But the more I get closer to the mystery of Therizinosaurus, the more I get confused.

Look at these. I found these amongst the bones. They’re not the teeth of a meat eater. They’re leaf shaped and serrated. That suggests they’re designed for slicing through vegetation. And earlier, when I found the nest, there was also that herbivorous dung there so I just don’t know what’s going on with this amazing creature.

Velociraptors! And they’re paying attention to us.
Nigel!
Come on! They’re gaining.
I’ve got an idea which may work. And this is a bicycle horn I brought from home and lets see what happens. Just as I thought. Velociraptors, like most animals don’t like loud noises. Are you okay? Do you want a hand with yours?

Can you hear that? There is a terrific kerfuffle, and I think it’s by the lake.

Sshh! It’s Tarbosaurus. Get down!

What is that? I don’t believe it. At last! There’s claws – Therizinosaurus. I could never have imagined anything like that. Tiny head, and those great claws at the front. It is the oddest of dinosaurs.

Tarbosaurus – He’s noticed too. Normally big predators avoid each other but it looks like there could be a clash and we’d better get under cover.

It was an awesome fight, but Tarbosaurus eventually backed down and I got a chance to sneak out and observe the Therizinosaurus.

I was in for a surprise. A whole heard of them appeared and started browsing on the trees. Now everything adds up. Those teeth scattered in the skeleton. They were the teeth of a herbivore. The dung crammed with plant vegetation at the nest site. Therizinosaurus – it’s a plant eater, not a predator.

Look at them now. They’re moving those giant claws to drag leaves towards their mouths. Those great, long necks for reaching up for vegetation. And those pot bellies. Those are great fermentation chambers for the tons of vegetables they have to eat.

I want to get really close, but of course herbivores of this size, they’re not safe, but hopefully because of my smell – I smell like a mammal – I won’t be attacked. The only mammals around at this time are really, really small rat like mammals so they shouldn’t be threatened by me. At least, that was the theory. As far as I could see, those huge claws weren’t for killing things, though they clearly discouraged Tarbosaurus.

In fact, these seemed like quite gentle creatures and this gave me an idea. Something that would bring my quest for the giant claw to a natural end. They seem completely oblivious, even if I speak quite loudly. So I’m going to go even closer and see if I can touch one.

Go back to ESLpodTV

Go to Rikai.com Japanese

Go to Rikai.com Spanish