Thanks to Chelle for this laugh...(and the tvnz website)
Scientists using a camera to monitor a remote New Zealand volcano over the internet have struck an odd problem - a pink dinosaur.
Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) researchers have installed a digital camera in the crater of the volcano which makes up most of White Island in the Bay of Plenty, east of Auckland.
The often active volcano draws tourists by boat but most people do not go ashore on the uninhabited, rumbling island.
To keep a close watch on the area, GNS researchers installed a digital camera on the island and shots taken every hour are posted on their website.
But suddenly a pink dinosaur has appeared in the shot.
"Some wag has glued a pink dinosaur in front of our digital camera," GNS' John Callan said.
"A number of people have been emailing us asking what the dinosaur is all about."
They are not planning on removing it, counting on the sulphur and high acid environment to deal with the creature.
You can see the dino for yourself if you look at the White Island Crater cam.
Posted by jenni at May 28, 2004 01:04 PM