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Hongkongers Unearth Rare Dinosaur Egg Fossils in Guangdong

Hongkongers Unearth Rare Dinosaur Egg Fossils in Guangdong

HEYUAN, Guangdong – In a remarkable paleontological discovery, two Hongkongers have unearthed a clutch of six dinosaur egg fossils in Heyuan, Guangdong, a region hailed as the “Home of Dinosaurs” for its prolific collection of ancient reptilian remains.

The fossils were found on November 23 by Erik Yip Hang-wing, a docent at a Hong Kong geopark and an amateur geologist, who was hiking in Qiaobei Park in Heyuan. Yip and a friend stumbled upon the egg fossils, which measured between 5 to 9 centimeters in length and 4 centimeters in width, all neatly preserved in an oval shape.

“I can’t believe I found fossils in Heyuan city. This is out of my expectations,” Yip said, adding that he had initially planned to visit the park to observe the region’s distinctive red rock formations.

Heyuan has long been renowned as a paleontological treasure trove, with over 20,000 fragments of fossilized dinosaur eggs discovered within its borders. However, the recovery of intact egg fossils by local residents is an exceptional occurrence, according to Huang Zhiqing, the director of the Heyuan dinosaur research institute.

“The egg fossils were found on November 23 by Mr Yip from Hong Kong when he was hiking at the park,” Huang said, confirming that this represents the first such discovery by Hongkongers in mainland China.

Following the unearthing, the egg fossils have been carefully preserved and are now undergoing meticulous analysis by paleontologists. Huang’s team is working to determine the specific species of the dinosaurs that laid these remarkable remnants of the prehistoric past.

The discovery is particularly significant given the rarity of intact dinosaur egg fossils, which are often fragmented or eroded over time. In this case, the recent rainfall in the region is believed to have played a role in exposing the fossils by stripping away the outermost layer of rock.

“The place where the fossils were found was near city areas and is relatively close, which is a huge advantage,” Yip noted, underscoring the accessibility of Heyuan’s paleontological bounty.

The Heyuan city dinosaur museum’s director, Du Yanli, emphasized the profound global impact of the region’s fossil trove, which has already identified at least 14 distinct types of dinosaur egg fossils among its collection of over 20,000 fragments.

“The diversity of its fossil collection has already astonished the world,” Du said, echoing the local quip that “we could not call ourselves Heyuan people if we haven’t stepped on a dinosaur egg before.”

This latest find by the two Hongkongers not only highlights the richness of Heyuan’s prehistoric heritage but also underscores the potential for further groundbreaking discoveries in the region. As Yip plans to return to the area more frequently, the “Home of Dinosaurs” may have more secrets to reveal.