MovieChat Forums > Jurassic Park (1993) Discussion > The reason the Triceratops get sick ever...

The reason the Triceratops get sick every six weeks.

posted 8 years ago by foxhound-37781
4 replies | jump to latest

The scene where they are examining the sick Triceratops, Dr Harding explains to Ellie that this happens every six weeks and they're trying to figure out why.

Is it every actually explained why this is happening every six weeks, it doesn't seem to be an issue that's resolved in the film (or the book for that matter). we just find out that certain dinosaurs keep repeatedly getting sick and we don't actually find out why....

anyone got any ideas on this?

[–] Neelis 8 years ago

It's addressed in the novel when the characters visit the sick Stegosaurus; some of the herbivorous dinosaurs swallow gizzard stones which help digest vegetation. As they eat the stones they swallow up the berries as well. The stones are later regurgitated, and the berries come out then as well - this is the reason why there are no traces of berries in the dinosaur's stool.

Look closely when Ellie and Tim kneel beside the dinosaur (when Gennaro insists on returning to the vehicles). When they get up, they both have a gizzard stone in their hands.

http://jurassicpark.wikia.com/wiki/Jurassic_Park_Deleted_Scenes

[–] foxhound-37781 8 years ago

I do remember that, but Ray Arnold (in the book) mentions that they don't know why the Stego's keep getting sick despite the fact they know that certain animals are eating gizzard stones.... to me it's just confusing and could have done with a little bit more of an explanation.

[–] Neelis 8 years ago

I do remember that, but Ray Arnold (in the book) mentions that they don't know why the Stego's keep getting sick despite the fact they know that certain animals are eating gizzard stones.... to me it's just confusing and could have done with a little bit more of an explanation.

In the novel Grant, Tim and Sattle are the first to find out.

It was left out of the film for reasons of pacing and to keep the dinosaur's ailment a mystery.

[–] gottaluvafriend 7 years ago

The people who planned the park had been ignorant that certain plants were toxic to certain animals. Ellie knew about the plants.