The Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, otherwise known as the K-T event, was a mass extinction event that took place about 74.5 million years ago. Effectively, climate change (specifically an in

In the year 2037, time travel was no longer just a concept seen in sci-fi movies, it was an alarming reality. The technology available allowed people, and more ominously, objects from different periods, to travel through time. There were no time paradoxes, thankfully, but its adoption gave rise to another issue that mankind wasn’t prepared for - the invasion of hadrosaur dinosaurs. The spark was presumably unintentional, but the repercussions were catastrophic. Sometime in 2041, amidst all the time exploration, different genuses of hadrosaurs including Edmontosaurus, Maiasaura, Barsboldia, Secernosaurus, to name a few, had been accidentally introduced into humid forested environments across continents during the early to mid 20th century. The conditions were ideal for these hardy herbivores, not too different from their late Cretaceous habitats. At first, only the Edmontosaurus was seen in North America, then Barsboldia in Asia. Soon, a pattern began to emerge as the same continents where their fossils were found, became the setting of an ecological transformation of epic proportions. These creatures, extinct for millions of years, had somehow established non-native breeding populations, and were spreading their reign across the planet. With Australia and Antarctica serving as the only exceptions, the entire biogeography of our planet was in turmoil. Every region saw its own set of challenges. North America grappled with Edmontosaurus and Kritosaurus, Asia saw Barsboldia and Kerberosaurus, and most of Europe witnessed the spread of Telmatosaurus, Tethyshadros or Ajnabia. The world had to adapt quickly. Ecosystems were disturbed, new food chains were formed, and humankind was challenged with the idea of sharing its world with a species long vanished. What followed were years of world-wide cooperative efforts as governments, scholars, and concerned citizens joined forces. Policies were enacted to control the spread of these prehistoric beasts; educational programs were implemented to teach people to live with these animals around. These majestic, almost ethereal creatures added a dash of Cretaceous charm to the modern world. The story serves as a cautionary tale as well as a lesson in adaptability. The inadvertent time-travel of hadrosaurs and their unplanned introduction led to a tumultuous century, but also paved the way for a world that knew how to share, respect, and appreciate the wonder and diversity of life, past and present.