Isla Sorna Development
Engineered in secrecy. Abandoned to conquer.
Isla Sorna—codenamed Site B—was the clandestine biological crucible behind the public spectacle of Isla Nublar. Situated approximately 150 miles south of Costa Rica in the Pacific, this island functioned as InGen's primary construction and breeding ground, assembling its genetic menagerie long before tourists ever arrived at the visitor center. While Isla Nublar dazzled with attractions, Sorna operated as a restricted industrial zone: a secret factory where embryos gestated and animals were raised in semi-wild conditions until transport was viable.
- Location
- Pacific Ocean (approx. 150 miles south of Costa Rica)
- Primary Function
- Dinosaur Breeding and Construction Site
- Parent Organization
- InGen (International Genetics Incorporated)
- Key Personnel
- Peter Ludlow, Dr. Henry Wu, Robert Muldoon
- Status
- Abandoned / Feral Ecosystem
Lore & Background
Long before the first guest boarded a boat for Isla Nublar, thousands of acres of Sorna's jungle teemed with life. The island housed massive processing plants, incubation labs, and expansive paddocks designed to rear dinosaurs from hatchling to adult size. Unlike the manicured containment of its northern neighbor, Site B utilized a rugged industrial philosophy; animals roamed freely within designated zones until maturity required shipment. Infrastructure included a central hub, helicopter pads, and road networks that would eventually succumb to decay.
Following the 1993 catastrophe on Isla Nublar, InGen evacuated but made the controversial decision to leave Site B's population behind rather than euthanize or transport them. Over subsequent years, human maintenance ceased, allowing the ecosystem to stabilize without interference. Predators adapted to hunt herbivores, shifting population dynamics into a volatile, natural balance. The pristine facilities were reclaimed by vegetation, with rusting vehicles and crumbling concrete becoming part of the landscape for new apex predators.
The island's existence remained hidden until outside interests attempted exploitation. The revelation that dinosaurs had not only survived but thrived in isolation ignited conflict between corporate ambition and biological reality. Sorna stands as a testament to nature's resilience, proving life cannot be contained by fences or corporate mandates.
In Their Own Story
Humid air hung heavy over the processing plant, thick with the scent of wet earth and rotting vegetation. A rusted forklift sat half-swallowed by ferns near the main gate, its hydraulic lines severed long ago. In the distance, a low, guttural roar echoed through the canopy, shaking dust from the concrete ruins.
Reader's Guide
The history of Isla Sorna begins as InGen's secret construction site, where dinosaurs were bred and raised before being shipped to Isla Nublar for public display. During this phase, the island was a bustling industrial hub with strict containment protocols and heavy machinery operating around the clock.
Following the 1993 incident on Isla Nublar, InGen evacuated most personnel but left the animals behind at Site B. Over several years, the facility fell into complete disrepair as nature reclaimed the infrastructure. The dinosaurs adapted to their environment, forming a self-sustaining ecosystem where predator and prey coexisted without human intervention.
In 1997, InGen attempted to return to the island to capture specimens for a new park in San Diego. A team led by Dr. Ian Malcolm was sent to document the site but was forced into survival mode when they encountered the feral population. This conflict highlighted the dangers of treating nature as a commodity and resulted in further loss of life.
Years later, in 2001, a rescue mission involving a family and a team of mercenaries landed on Sorna after their plane crashed. They navigated the dangerous terrain to reach a helicopter for extraction while evading various dinosaurs, including the newly introduced Spinosaurus. These events underscored that Isla Sorna was no longer a factory but a wild territory where humans were merely intruders.
Did You Know?
- Isla Sorna shares an archipelago with Isla Nublar but remained off-limits to the public and most employees until after the first park's failure.
- The island utilized a 'wild' containment philosophy, granting animals significantly more freedom than the tightly controlled pens of the visitor center park.
- Unlike Isla Nublar's dedicated power grid for fences, Site B relied on natural barriers and remote monitoring until systems failed completely.
- Several dinosaur species found on Sorna were never seen in the first film, having been bred specifically to populate this secondary location.