| Fossil of world’s largest land mammal to go on display |
ISLAMABAD The fossils of a Baluchitherium, the largest land-based mammal known to have lived, will be mounted at the Pakistan Natural History Museum (PNHM) in Shakarparian on Friday.
This was said by Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) Chairman Dr Manzoor H Soomro on Tuesday. He said the foundation had prepared a
comprehensive strategy in collaboration with France to install the 30-foot long and 50-foot wide Baluchitherium in the museum near Garden Avenue. The fossils were discovered in 2000 in Dera Bugti in Balochistan.
The extinct animal’s bones were sent to the French National Museum of Natural History for preservation after being discovered. The museum sent the fossils back after analysing them. The Baluchitherium lived in what is now Balochistan some 23 million years ago.
Soomro said that Baluchitherium will be the identity of PSF and it is another major development after the recent whale shark find. He hoped that the skeleton will be helpful in piquing the interest of students in biology and zoology.
Pakistan Natural History Museum Director General Dr Azhar Hussain said the animal used to roam through the forests of Balochistan some 30 million years ago before global weather changes swept the forest away.
He added that Balochistan has an abundance of dinosaur and mammalian fossils and more discoveries could come if efforts were made.
About Rs1.6 million have been spent on the life-size model of Baluchitherium, with Pakistani artist Muhammad Asim preparing the model. He said he did it out of love for the country while adding that it would have cost millions if the model were prepared by a European museum.
Internews
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