It is impossible to resist a closer look at The Tree of Life, which stands 145 feet tall at the heart of Discovery Island.

Carved into the tree’s gnarled roots, mighty trunk and sturdy branches is a rich tapestry of more than 300 animals -- from the mighty lion to the playful dolphin.

A total of 103,000 leaves of many colors and four shapes and sizes were attached by hand to more than 8,000 branches.

Its trunk is 50 feet wide and spreads to 170 feet in diameter at its sprawling root base.

The base is home to the It's Tough to be a Bug theatre.

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