A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, estimated to fetch between £15 million and £22.4 million at auction, has sparked concerns among palaeontologists over the escalating commercialisation of dinosaur fossils and its impact on scientific research.
Dubbed 'Gus', the 67-million-year-old T. rex stands approximately 3.8 metres tall in a predatory pose, showcasing its formidable teeth. Discovered and excavated between 2021 and 2024 from Harding County, South Dakota, by Theropoda Expeditions, the specimen's name is a tribute to late landowner Gary 'Gus' Licking. This remarkable find highlights the growing problem: significant fossil discoveries are increasingly entering private collections rather than public institutions.
Professor Richard Butler, a vertebrate palaeontologist at the University of Birmingham, has expressed concern over the trend of dinosaur fossils being sold like rare artworks. "Fossils not housed in recognised museum collections are lost to research," he said. While fossil trading has a long history, current prices have pushed them beyond the reach of most museums, hindering scientific advancement.
Professor Stephen Brusatte from the University of Edinburgh echoed these sentiments, noting that while the auction appears legal under US law, it raises significant worries for scientists. "If a dinosaur like this fetches tens of millions of dollars at auction, then there's little that scientists or museums can do," he explained.
The precedent was set with 'Sue', another T. rex from South Dakota, which was acquired by the Field Museum in Chicago for $8 million in 1997 with support from private donors and corporations. However, since then, the market has seen a surge in prices, making fossil collecting a pursuit of the wealthy.