Is it real?

I heard that question from almost every person who spotted this enormous Atlas Moth. It was hanging from a plant that was growing in the small pond in the butterfly room at the Calgary Zoo when I went there on 6 October 2012. Unfortunately, it was surrounded by these fine leaves, so I couldn't get a good photo of it from any angle. I always find the snake-like wing tips fascinating.

"Atlas moths are considered the largest moths in the world in terms of total wing surface area (upwards of c. 400 cm, 62 sq in). Their wingspans are also amongst the largest, reaching over 25 cm (10 in). Females are appreciably larger and heavier."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attacus_atlas