Germany returns 'stolen' dinosaur fossil to Brazil

The National Times - Germany returns 'stolen' dinosaur fossil to Brazil

Germany returns 'stolen' dinosaur fossil to Brazil / Photo: © BRAZIL'S MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MCTI)/AFP

A fossil from a rare dinosaur that roamed South America 110 million years ago has been returned to Brazil from Germany, ending a diplomatic spat triggered by charges that researchers stole it.

Change text size:

The small dino, called Ubirajara jubatus, which had an early form of feathers and spearlike rods jutting from its shoulders, fascinated scientists, who identified it as previously unknown species in a paper published in 2020.

But it soon sparked a scientific and ethical scandal, when Brazilian researchers accused the German team behind the paper of illegally removing the fossil from Brazil.

After a nearly three-year standoff, a delegation led by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock returned the fossil Sunday during a visit to Brasilia, officials said.

"The Ubirajara jubatus fossil, the first non-avian dinosaur with feather-like structures found in South America, has been returned to Brazil," the Brazilian science and technology ministry said in a statement Monday.

The fossil was found in 1990 by a team of paleontologists in the northeastern state of Ceara. They took it to Germany to study it, housing it in the State Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe.

But Brazilian scientists cried foul after the publication of the December 2020 paper identifying the fossil as a new species, saying the specimen had been removed from the country irregularly.

Local legislation establishes that fossils found in Brazil belong to the state, and that foreign researchers must collaborate with a Brazilian institution if they want to export them.

Scientists launched an online campaign calling for the fossil to be returned, under the hashtag #UbirajarabelongstoBR.

"Without the mobilization of the Brazilian scientific community, we would not have been successful," Science and Technology Minister Inacio Arruda said.

The 11.5-kilo (25-pound) specimen will now be housed at a university paleontology museum in Ceara.

J.Sharp--TNT

Readers Debate GTA 6 Spin-offs, Server Strain, and Warner Bros. Decline in Games Inbox

In this week’s Games Inbox, readers discuss the potential direction of the first Grand Theft Auto 6 spin-off, questioning whether Rockstar will upgrade Liberty City or San Andreas. The column also addresses anxieties regarding server capacity for the upcoming launch, the cancellation of James Gunn’s role at DC Studios, and positive reviews of the new Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.

US Government Questions Effectiveness of Waymo’s School Bus Software Fix

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is examining whether a software update issued by Waymo effectively resolved safety issues involving its autonomous vehicles improperly passing stopped school buses. Federal regulators found that the majority of such incidents occurred after the company claimed to have fixed the problem, prompting a formal inquiry into the recall's efficacy.

The Sourdough Sidekick Review: Can an Automated Feeder Save Your Starter?

Maintaining a sourdough starter as a working parent can feel like caring for another pet. To address this challenge, King Arthur Baking Company and GE Appliances developed the Sourdough Sidekick, an automated feeder that dispenses flour and water on a schedule. After three weeks of testing, the device successfully ended a yearlong baking dry spell, though it requires careful initial setup to function correctly.

The National Times - Germany returns 'stolen' dinosaur fossil to Brazil