For the first time ever, dinosaur fossils were discovered in Hong Kong on a remote and uninhabited island that is used as a geopark.
In March, Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department found the fossils on Port Island. Experts have yet to confirm the dinosaur species. Still, according to a government statement, they initially found that the fossils are part of a large dinosaur from the Cretaceous period, which lasted from roughly 145 million to 66 million years ago. Further investigation will be required to determine the dinosaur species.
Authorities said the remains were “scattered, fragmented, and weathered.” According to the statement, the dinosaur might have been buried by sand and gravel after it passed, only to be washed up to the surface again by a flood. It was then re-buried by the elements where it was discovered.
More about the dinosaur fossils in Hong Kong
Experts in paleontology believe that discovering dinosaur fossils in Hong Kong is incredible news, as the city has a complex geological and climatological history.
Michael Pittman, an assistant professor of life sciences at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told CNN, “The only way we can find dinosaur fossils is if there is a bit on the surface that we can see.” Pittman added that the fossils may have eroded had they not discovered them in time, thanks to Hong Kong’s fluctuating weather patterns.
Hong Kong has never been a place where dinosaur fossils could be discovered, with only plants and small species from ancient eras having been found. Even though this is a first for Hong Kong, China is one of the places on Earth with the most fossils. According to Pittman, along with Argentina, the United States, and Canada, China is one of four key countries for fossil discovery.
The nearby region of Guangdong is known for its fossils, and more than 30,000 dinosaur egg fossils have been discovered there.
Port Island is indefinitely closed to visitors right now because of the discovery. “If they end up finding a whole skeleton of a big dinosaur or two dinosaurs, they might have to go back next summer and the summer after that,” said Pittman.
The government has commissioned experts from mainland China to investigate the fossils further. The dinosaur fossils in Hong Kong could mean a new area for further fossil discoveries and potentially new fossils. Either way, it could further dinosaur research.
“Now we can say that in Hong Kong, as well as having a strong track record of dinosaur research, we actually can contribute fossils,” said Pittman. “It’s fantastic news.”
