The Minister of Environment of Cambodia, Say Samal, announced that the country’s archaeologists have discovered a dinosaur fossil on Koh Por Island, located in Koh Kong Province.
The fossil was found on Koh Por Island, near the Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary in Koh Kong Province. (Photo: Ministry of Environment of Cambodia).
“The first dinosaur fossil has been discovered on Koh Por Island in Cambodia,” Khmer Times quoted Minister Say Samal on October 28.
This fossil, which is similar in size to an elephant’s leg bone, was excavated in Bak Khlang Commune, Mondul Seima District, Koh Kong Province, bordering Preah Sihanouk Province, in March 2021.
Hun Marady, director of the Koh Kong Provincial Department of Environment, stated on October 27 that researchers have spent about a year studying the fossil. Based on the evidence collected, they concluded that this fossil belongs to a dinosaur.
“After the discovery, we decided not to move the fossil as we are still conducting research. According to experts, the fossil is from a dinosaur species, but further research is needed to determine which type of dinosaur it is,” Mr. Marady said.
Meanwhile, Lim Vanchan, director of the Heritage Office at the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia, noted that after the discovery, a team of archaeologists determined that the fossil is estimated to be between 65 to 190 million years old.
“We lack experts in ancient animals, so we need to seek foreign specialists,” Mr. Vanchan said. “We will have three French experts joining the research team in mid-November.”
Mr. Vanchan also mentioned that images of the fossil were presented at an international conference in November 2021, attended by experts from the United States, France, and Thailand, according to the Phnom Penh Post.
