Storyline: Life-like bionic animals roar to life at Chinese theme parks [Voice_over] In China, more and more amusement and theme parks are deploying animatronic creatures to create a new kind of park experience. At this Shanghai ocean park, a five-meter-long, 350-kilo robotic whale shark glides effortlessly through the tank. Allegedly the world’s largest bionic fish, the AI-powered robot mimics the movements of its living counterpart. [Sound_bite] Kong Shiyuan, staff member, Shanghai ocean park: "It's controlled by a remote. We use the remote to steer, control the speed, and make it go up and down. It has three sonar sensors to help it navigate. The tail has eight moving joints that work together to make it swim. To control the depth, it uses its fins along with an internal tank that fills with water to sink and empties to rise." [Voice_over] Elsewhere in the park, a giant bionic polar bear comes to life with its realistic facial expressions. [Sound_bite] Li Hongling, staff member, Cultural and Performing Arts Department, Shanghai ocean park: "The entire body of the bear is articulated. It’s capable of walking on all fours, leaping up, and even spraying water or mist from its head. It also features a range of lifelike facial expressions." [Voice_over] According to park officials, bionic animals like the 1.4-million-dollar robotic whale shark require a significant upfront investment but are more affordable to maintain. Going forward, the park plans to expand their bionic lineup to include animals that are extinct. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]