France returns many rare dinosaur fossils to Mongolia.

France will return to Mongolia several rare dinosaur fossils originating from the Gobi Desert, ending an investigation and legal pursuit that lasted more than a decade.

The highlight among the returned artifacts is a nearly complete fossil of Tarbosaurus bataar, an Asian relative of the Tyrannosaurus rex, dating back approximately 66 million years. Also included are teeth, an oviraptor skeleton, eggs, and numerous other fossil fragments.

The specimens will be transported to the capital Ulan Bator to join the collection of the National Museum of Natural History of Mongolia, for research and display purposes.

Mongolian Minister of Culture, Sports , Tourism and Youth Undram Chinbat received the handover document from French Minister for Budget and Public Accounts Amélie de Montchalin. Both sides emphasized the importance of cooperation in preventing the illegal exploitation and trafficking of prehistoric heritage.

Meanwhile, representatives from the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) welcomed the implementation of the spirit of the 1970 Convention against Trafficking in Cultural Property.

The above event was the final—albeit incomplete—result of a complex affair. In 2013, at the suggestion of Brazilian authorities, French customs inspected a ship docked in Le Havre and discovered 998 undeclared fossils imported by a French company.

In 2015, customs investigators in Lyon seized nine more crates of fossils, including the famous Tarbosaurus bataar dinosaur fossil. Further investigation revealed that these artifacts were linked to the Le Havre incident, leading to the seizure of an additional 219 specimens, including 28 originating from Mongolia.

The investigation determined that these fossils had been transported through China and North Korea before arriving in France. A German dealer delivered the specimens to a French company specializing in processing fossils for resale. All individuals involved, both domestically and internationally, have been identified.

According to investigator Jérémie Bruckert, this is a "unique" case, revealing a world of fossil trafficking that defies Mongolian law – a country that has absolutely banned the export of fossils since 1924.

Although the investigation concluded in 2018, the defendants have relentlessly employed all legal means to avoid being charged with organized crime, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The case has gone through three rulings by the Court of Cassation, but remains unresolved. Unable to wait any longer, Mongolia has taken it upon itself to act as a civil plaintiff since August 2023.

After a process described as "like a labyrinth," the court finally issued a final ruling allowing the fossils to be returned.

This is not the first time Mongolia has received Tarbosaurus fossils back from abroad. In 2015, actor Nicolas Cage was forced to return a Tarbosaurus skull he had purchased in 2007.

In February 2024, the US also returned more than 1,000 fossil fragments belonging to six dinosaur species in the largest repatriation ever. Mongolia said further claims proceedings are still underway in the US and possibly in Belgium and France.

The illegal fossil market is considered to be extremely complex. Statistics from 2024 show that out of a total of 22,125 items seized by French customs, only 104 were fossils – but the economic value of these items is enormous.

In 2020, a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton was sold in New York for nearly $32 million. In 2024, another Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton was sold in Paris for €4.7 million ($5.5 million).

According to expert Ronan Allain of the French Museum of Natural History, many specimens, even when returned, lose their scientific value due to a lack of information about the excavation site and context – essential elements for better understanding the habitat and evolution of dinosaurs.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phap-tra-lai-cho-mong-co-nhieu-hoa-thach-khung-long-quy-hiem-post1082279.vnp