First it must be asked how many animals were involved here? Millions? Hundreds of thousands? Hardly. One of America’s leading systematic taxonomists estimates the modern number of animals in each species: mammals—3,500; birds—8,600; reptiles and amphibians—5,500; worms—25,500.

Taking this into consideration, one may reasonably conclude that no more than 35,000 individual vertebrate animals the size of a sheep (overall average) boarded the ark. It has been estimated that a modern train hauling 150 boxcars could easily handle these animals. But the ark had a carrying capacity of more than 520 stock cars! In other words, there was more than enough room in the ark. Noah and his family could have played shuffleboard on deck had they chosen to do so.