From New Zealand today, Stegosaurus held a press conference to express the profound grief he feels upon hearing the news of the extinction of his friend Ray Harryhausen on May 7th, 2013.

"You will have to forgive me, I have been so distraught that I can barely move," said Stegosaurus with tears in his eyes. "I've been here enjoying my vacation with the Moas, and ever since we heard this news earlier today we have been absolutely devastated. It is such misfortune that Mammals' lives are so short !! Only 92!! Ray Harryhausen, like his friend Ray Bradbury, was an ardent supporter and advocate for dinosaurs and the megafauna of prehistory. I personally have the distinction of being the first dinosaur he worked with, in 1935, and I was also pleased to work with him in 1956. I'm very proud of that."

"I will always remember his generous compliments, praising my beauty. The 8th point of similarity I share with my brother horse. I will also miss floating forthrightly on my raft to London every June to celebrate his birthday.The Moas and I will travel to London one more time to attend the memorial for our dear friend. As I understand it, Rhedosaurus has left Wall Street in New York, USA, to join his wife who is already in London. The Moas and I will also join the entire Dinosaur Congressional Caucus there."

"It is a good time for us to be together to share our memories and love for the bright soul and wonderful mammal that Ray Harryhausen was. My condolences, the condolences of the Moa Birds, and all prehistoric and fantastic creatures everywhere go out to his lovely wife Diana and family; We all owe him and his wild, wonderful imagination a debt of gratitude for restoring the life to our fossils and his lifelong enthusiasm for all that we are and have been."

"What he has done for us, in recalling us and remembering us, we will also do. Always. His memory and great body of work will ensure his immortality, but his physical presence will be missed for millions of years beyond counting."

"The Spring semester of College has come to a close, and I have taken some time to float forthrightly on my raft to New Zealand for a bird watching vacation," said Stegosaurus.

"How relaxing it has been! The Moa birds are so happy to see me! Anytime I'm around watching them, my presence scares away the Haast's Eagles. I don't mind the Haast's Eagles, really. They are beautiful too. I just don't want them eating my friends.

Whether I stomp to the coastal dunelands of North Island, The Eastern South Island, The plentiful swamp forests, the canopy forests, or the mountainous subalpine zones, I have Moas to watch, look at and converse with. What a wonderful time I am having, it is such a relief after all the studying for my medical degree. The canopy forests are so delicious, I have to watch that I don't eat too much of my friends' habitat. I also need to be mindful of my weight. I've maintained my figure at a respectable 6 tons, but it is easy to get carried away when you are on vacation."

(click to enlarge )