A monument to all earth's creatures, the park's centerpiece is an imposing 14 stories high and 50 feet wide at its base. Its 100,000-plus leaves are several shades of green fabric, each carefully placed for a realistic effect. Carved into its thick trunk, gnarled roots, and soaring branches -- some of which are supported by joints that allow them to sway in a strong wind -- are nearly 350 intricate animal forms that include a baboon, a whale, a horse, the mighty lion, and even an ankylosaurus. Outside, paths tunnel underneath the roots as the fauna-encrusted trunk towers overhead. It's a rich and truly fascinating sight -- the more you look the more you see. The path leads you inside the tree trunk to the star attraction of Discovery Island, where you get a bug's-eye view of life. The whimsical 3-D film adventure It's Tough to Be a Bug! is modeled vaguely on the animated film A Bug's Life from Disney-Pixar, the creators of Toy Story. Special film and theater effects spray you with "poison," zap you with a swatter, and even poke you with a stinger. It's all in good fun -- and the surprise ending is too playful to give away.

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