Deadly 60 comes to Africa

In the Serengeti, Pavi T'Challa has already made her departure, continuing her trip, to Prehistoric Park, owned by wildlife presenter, television producer, author and ornithologist Nigel Marven. This time, another presenter is coming to the reserve, this time, to learn something about dinosaurs, in order to fulfill his wish. Since he's been around the world searching for all kinds of deadly animals, he wants to expand his knowledge by learning about dinosaurs and their capabilities. This was the host of Deadly 60 - Stephen James Backshall.

The englishman has seen a single episode of Jurassic Fight Club on TV, and a documentary on cloning extinct organisms, hosted by dr. Neo Cortex. With an already burning interest in reptiles, enthusiastic Steve had to try this as well. Mostly, to see carnivores in action, because he's tested the bite forces of various crocodilians of some of his expeditions. Hearing of paleontologist Robert Bakker, who apparently had a reserve of live dinosaurs in this stretch of savanna, Steve now seized his chance.

A white airplane, with the Deadly 60 logo on the side, flies over the plains and toward the airport. Steve Backshall's dream is about to fulfill in a matter of minutes.

Robert Bakker has had an adventure with Nigel and it seems like another adventure was on its way. As Bakker enters into the main facility, a park ranger comes up to him and says "Welcome back sir...we seem to have a newly arriving plane landing at our airport station". "One of our supply planes" asks Bakker. "No sir, the plane seems to have a logo on the side of it the with deadly sixty and a skull on it" answers the ranger. Bakker then realizes who is aboard the plane, for he has seen the television show before. "Have the passengers of the plane come to my office once they have landed" says Bakker. "Of course, sir" replies the ranger who then walks away towards the small airport just behind the main facility.

The plane was soon landing upon the concete surface of the airport, slowly, yet steadily. As the main door opened, the first to exit the plane was Steve - a fairly tall, muscular man with a broad nose and wide mouth. He's come to Tanzania to observe some deadly wildlife as usual - but this time, he's not looking for African predators. He is on the search for dinosaurs. The Deadly 60 camera crew follow close behind, as they all make their way to the airport center.

The reserve ranger meets with Steve and says to him "Sir, you have been requested to meet Mr. Bakker in his office". "If you and your crew will follow me, I will bring you to him" says the ranger.

As Steve headed across the runway and toward the main facility, he was approached by the reserve's ranger, who already told him and his crew to follow him to mr. Bakker's office: "Alright, thanks sir." he then turned to the camera and said: "Right now, we're going to mr. Robert Bakker's office. Mr. Bakker is a veteran paleontologist who is an expert on horned dinosaurs and meat-eaters, and quite frankly, was among several to oppose Jack Horner's theory on T-Rex being a scavenger, which was revoked years ago."

The ranger turns and walks on toward the facility to lead the group to Bakker's office. Camera crews are turned away from the reserve unless under Bakker's request. Though he has not given this request, he does want to see them to likely provide them with what they are looking for.

Steve and his crew headed onward, following the reserve ranger toward prof. Bakker's office. Treading patienly, intending to use some stock footage of dinosaur fossils, until they reach the office.

The ranger enters into Bakker's office and says "Sir, your guests are here". Bakker turns his chair to the ranger and says to him "Send them in please". The ranger nods his head and turns to Steve and his camera crew and says "You can enter into his office". The ranger the leaves the group so they can chat with Bakker.

Steve was the first to walk inside, as the camera crew followed, filming the future conversation that was yet to unfold between Steve and Robert. One cameraman was filming from the door, while two more split up on different sides of the office, to record the conversation from different angles.
"Good afternoon, mr. Bakker." Steve greeted, shaking the old paleontologists hand.

Bakker shakes the hand of Steve and says to him "Hello Mr. Backshall". Bakker is used to the occasional exposure to camera crews, so he doesn't mind their presence. "So Steve, what brings you to the Serengeti Dinosaur Reserve" asks Bakker.

"Well," Steve began: "I first saw a program on BBC about cloning dinosaurs with the scientists of Umbrella Incorporated, and at first, I couldn't believe it, but when I saw their Anchiceratops living and breathing, I was pretty shocked. Then I saw you some weeks ago, and you were talking about studying dinosaur behavior, and you showed us some dinosaurs. Are we allowed to see them?"

Bakker hears about the intentions of Steve and his crew and thinks for a moment. "I do understand that your show is focused primarily on dangerous animals and I do admire that" says Bakker. "But dinosaurs are on a whole different level of danger; these were the earth's most successful creatures and I honestly can't guarantee your safety here...the predators of the reserve are more dangerous and aggressive than anything you have dealt with". "Now I am not saying that I won't show you the dinosaurs on the reserve, but you will follow my instructions without question and only approach the dinosaurs if I say so".

"Very well." Steve added: "We will obey your every word, because no one on this wants to get injured heavily." He then thought of another idea: to ask what dinosaurs were exibited here: "And before we go, I'd like to ask which types of dinosaurs will we see. Not all, but just shorten it down, so we can know what to expect."

Bakker hears what Steve has just asked him and he replies saying "Sauropods and ceratopsians are our most common large herbivore and the most common herbivorous dinosaur species is Hypsilophodon". "Theropods do abound here; the most common being Bambiraptors and Compsognathus, but there are a number of large theropod predators and they are some of the largest to ever live" says Bakker. "I trust that you have a fair amount of experience with today's top predators like lions, correct"?

"Yes, we've been to Africa before, and we've seen lions in action." Steve replied, nodding his head. "We know very well how to deal with them too." he said, because he's been into things from Piranha-infested water to dark caves and knows that coming up-close to a dinosaur will be quite similar.

"Well, nothing much more to say then, though a pack of piranhas are goldfish when compared to a pack of Bambiraptors and lions may as well be house cats when compared to a large theropod like Allosaurus" says Bakker. "But anyway, when do you wish to begin our excursion" he asks Steve.

Steve understood the risks and did not want to take any chances with dinosaurs, hearing how dangerous they can be, but excursion time was not a problem for him - as far as he was concerned, they could head out any time.
"Whenever you want, professor." Steve said.

"I am ready to go at any time, so lets get a move on then while the day is young" says Bakker. He stands up from his desk chair and extends his hand to the group. "May it be a day to remember and a safe one" he says to them.

Steve smiled excitedly, seeing that Robert was also ready to go whenever, and going out during the day was a good idea. He said: "Excellent! We should get ready to move then." he shook Robert's hand.
He then turned to his camera and said: "We're going to see living dinosaurs!!!" with a high-pitched, excited voice.

With this, Bakker walks out of his office, knowing Steve and his crew will follow him. He then begins to make his way out of the facility. In the back of his mind, he thinks of his night out in the reserve with Nigel after their encounter with some of the theropods. He will make sure that something like this won't happen again on this adventure.

As Bakker expected, Steve and the 'Deadly 60' camera crew tagged along. They were all confident that they will be in safe hands with Robert and his people. Even though Steve was very excited about this, he could control his outbursts and be patient. Nevertheless, a smile appeared on his face as they stepped outside his office and made way toward the reserve.

Bakker says to Steve and the camera crew "We will be going on foot to remain stealthy and give you a good opportunity to get good shots without disturbing the dinosaurs". "And I will tell you if you can approach the animals, but only if I deem it safe for you guys to do so".

Steve and his camera crew nod, wink and show a thumb up, saying that they understand it. Steve turns to his camera and speaks: "Right now, we are in the savanna, where the dinosaurs reside. Professor Bakker knows very well how these animals behave, so he is going to judge whether or not we are going to approach them. I've seen stressed animals before, and believe me, it's better to keep your distance."

Bakker continues to head on and follow the trail while keeping an eye out for any dinosaurs that they may happen upon or might happen upon them. Bakker knows that a few miles away is a large watering hole which attracts many dinosaurs with the promise of cool water. However, there is a catch to this watering hole; predators will be found in and around the area of the watering hole so the group must be cautious.

Steve whispers to his crew to stake out their cameras across the watering hole, on every bank, to capture any forthcoming dinosaurs with precision. Steve sticks near one camera and says: "We are now at a watering hole, and watering holes are magnets for every kind of animal. Let's just hope a dinosaur walks nearby."