68-million-year-old baby T-rex listed on eBay, scientists infuriated
Fossils are the gift of nature, an opportunity to imagine living creatures as they were before the evolution of the human kind. But, just recently, a Montana-based man showed disregard for this opportunity when he advertised a 'research-precious' baby T-rex, estimated to have been 68 million years old, on eBay. His move has drawn widespread criticism from paleontologists worldwide. Here are the details.
Baby T-rex on sale for $2.95 million
Alan Detrich, a fossil-hunter, discovered the T-rex fossil in question nearly six years ago on an island in Montana. He held the skeleton for a few years and then decided to lend it off to University of Kansas Natural History Museum. The skeleton was on exhibit until last month when Detrich decided to put it up on eBay for $2.95 million.
Here's how listing selling baby T-rex read
"Most Likely the Only BABY T-Rex in the World! It has a 15 FOOT long Body and a 21" SKULL with Serrated Teeth! This Rex was a very dangerous meat eater. It's a RARE opportunity indeed to ever see a baby REX," the listing read.
Now, scientists are furious
As this is potentially the only baby T-rex fossil in existence, scientists have criticized Detrich for trading it like any other artifact. They added that the move would take the skeleton representing a unique part of life's past out of the reach of scientific study. The Guardian reports that the skeleton's analysis could have even solved a major debate about the history of T-rex.
Even the museum displaying the fossil is facing flak
Along with Detrich, scientists have also condemned the University of Kansas Natural History Museum for putting the fossil on display and increasing its value. They argue that the enhanced valuation from the museum display marked another unique selling point in Detrich's advertising strategy; he not just highlighted the value of baby T-rex but also noted it has been put on a museum exhibit.
Here's what scientists from Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology said
"Scientifically important fossils like the juvenile tyrannosaur are clues to our collective natural heritage and deserve to be held in public trust..Each one that is lost from the public trust, is part of that already fragmentary history that we will never collectively recover."
Now, the listing appears to have been removed
In the wake of this uproar, the listing appears to have been taken down, either by eBay or by Detrich himself. Before being taken down, some 100 people were 'watching' the listing, however, no one really agreed to offer the price asked by their owner. The current availability status of the fossil in question remains unknown.
