Should fossils be sold to private collectors? | ABC NEWS Loop
A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton nicknamed "Gus" has become the most valuable dinosaur fossil bought at auction.
It's raised questions as to whether scientifically significant fossils, like "Gus", should be available to the highest bidder, instead of going to public institutions where they can be studied. Palaeontologists have raised concerns over the surging market for dinosaur bones putting valuable specimens into private hands.
The previous record for a fossil auction was "Apex" the Stegosaurus, bought for $US44.6 million ($64 million) in 2024 by hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin.
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ABC News In-depth
Welcome to ABC News In-depth, where you'll find our long-form journalism and explainers to help you understand what's going on in the world around you. You'll find all your favourite ABC News programs: Four Corners, Foreign Correspondent, Australian Stor...