Hong Kong's first dinosaur fossils, likely from large dinosaur, go on display

Dinosaur fossils from the Cretaceous period found in Hong Kong spark excitement and scientific interest in the community.

The first dinosaur fossils found in Hong Kong, likely from a large dinosaur, were put on display on Friday (October 25, 2024) after they were found on a small, uninhabited outlying island, providing new evidence for research on palaeoecology in the financial hub.

The fossils, confirmed to be dated to the Cretaceous period some 145 million to 66 million years ago, need further study to confirm the dinosaur species, authorities said, but it was clear they were large vertebrate animals.

Also Read | Bizarre’ bird-like dinosaur has scientists enthralled 

They were found on Port Island, located in the northeast of Hong Kong and known for its red rock formations.

The city's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said in March the sedimentary rock on Port Island may contain fossils.

China's Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) this week signed an agreement to conduct further research.

In addition to Argentina, Canada and the United States, China is one of the four main countries in the world for both finding and researching dinosaur fossils, said Michael Pittman, an assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.