stealing dinosaur bones
searching for dinosaur fossils
scientists who study dinosaur bones,or fossils, are called paleontologists. By studying fossils, they can learn about the dinosaurs'lifestyle. Examining dinosaur fossils can lead to discovering many interesting facts about these enormous reptiles. This could be looking at the size of their teeth.Or it could be learningif a dinosaur was a meat eater or vegetarian.(a)Normally, the most difficult thing scientists have to do is determine the age of a fossil.(B) But recently, a bigger problem has emerged.(c)using black market dealers, fossils are often sold on the international market to private collectors. (D) these collectors.(D)These collectors like to keep the fossils as trophies.A large bone from a Tyrannosaurus Rex can sell for up to $8.5 million.
Dinosaur Thieves
in October 2009, paleontologists in India found hundreds of dinosaur eggs. Inside each egg were the dinosaur embryos (developing babies). But the eggs were later stolen. Scientists assume that the valuable eggs were sold to collectors for a high price. in the limestone cliffs in england,the footprint of an iguanodon was carved out of the rock. The footprint of the iguanodon---a relative of the iguana lizard---was at least 135 million years old. Since limestone is very soft, thievescan easily dig out fossils. In nearby Wales,more than 30 imprints from a three-toed dinosaur were stolen. They were later found to be on sale on eBay,a popular buy and sell website.
No Scientific Record
when paleontologists find dinosaur fossils, they close off the site to outsiders.(E) the site (often called a dig) is protected. (F) Fossil collecting
on private land, if you have the landowner is permission, is legal. (G) these fossils are legally taken, but never reported to scientist or museums.(H) The biggest worry is the lost scientific research. if a dinosaur fossil is stolen, there is no proper recording of the fossil. This means that scientists cannot study the specimens. Maybe the fossil is a new species of dinosaur. Or maybe the fossil could give scientists clues to how dinosaurs died. Unfortunately,the problem of fossil theft is only getting worse.