Dino-mite

Ayra Wang

The discovery of Hong Kong's first dinosaur fossils has ignited widespread excitement and drawn over 40,000 visitors to a special exhibition in the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre within just two months, according to Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho.

In a significant milestone in the city's paleontological history, some 30 rocks containing dinosaur bone fossils were unearthed last October on Port Island in the northeastern waters of the New Territories.

The largest fossil measured about 70 centimeters in length.

On a blog post yesterday, Linn said the discovery marks the first joint project under an agreement between her bureau and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology - or IVPP - of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"China is home to the largest number of dinosaur species discovered globally, with over 300 species named and studied so far," Linn said.

"Research on the fossils excavated on Port Island will help us explore Hong Kong's dinosaur species and paleoecological environment."

Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre launched the "Dinosaur Parlour" exhibition, which allows visitors to observe experts and staff cleaning and restoring fossils up close, last December.

Linn also noted that the Antiquities and Monuments Office had collaborated with local paleo-artists to create reconstructions of Chinese dinosaurs and footprints from the same era as the Port Island fossils.

These artworks, along with a panoramic depiction of the Cretaceous period, adorn the glass walls of the exhibition hall and the center's courtyard.

The office also collaborated with local illustrators to design dinosaur-themed merchandise, including lucky red envelopes, badges and keychains.

The exhibition offers guided tours by reservation for groups and free public guided tours on weekends and holidays.

To further engage the public, the office and the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department have organized nine public lectures, school outreach programs and hands-on workshops.

Linn said AMO will continue working with IVPP, as well as local and international experts to study the species of dinosaurs on Port Island, with findings to be published in academic journals.

The chief heritage executive of AMO, Susanna Siu Lai-kuen, said preliminary analysis by IVPP experts suggests the fossils belong to a large, elderly dinosaur from the Cretaceous period. The fossils also provide significant new evidence for research into Hong Kong's ancient ecosystems, she said.

Michael Pittman, assistant professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong's School of Life Sciences, described the find as a "dream come true." As a Hong Kong native, Pittman has long been involved in dinosaur research and has explored numerous rural areas of the city.

"Guangdong province is internationally renowned for its abundance of dinosaur egg fossils," Pittman said. "This discovery in Hong Kong extends the known range of dinosaur fossils in Guangdong to its southernmost point."

Pittman expressed hope that Hong Kong would continue to excel in fossil restoration and research, using this opportunity to boost public interest and understanding of science.

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com