A rock containing dinosaur bone fossils discovered in Hong Kong, is displayed at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in Hong Kong, China October 25, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The first dinosaur fossils found in Hong Kong, likely from a large dinosaur, were put on display on Friday (October 25, 2024) after they were found on a small, uninhabited outlying island, providing new evidence for research on palaeoecology in the financial hub.

The fossils, confirmed to be dated to the Cretaceous period some 145 million to 66 million years ago, need further study to confirm the dinosaur species, authorities said, but it was clear they were large vertebrate animals.

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They were found on Port Island, located in the northeast of Hong Kong and known for its red rock formations.

The city’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said in March the sedimentary rock on Port Island may contain fossils.

China’s Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) this week signed an agreement to conduct further research.

In addition to Argentina, Canada and the United States, China is one of the four main countries in the world for both finding and researching dinosaur fossils, said Michael Pittman, an assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

“This extremely exciting discovery now adds local dinosaur fossils to Hong Kong’s strong existing track record of dinosaur research. I hope it inspires greater interest in science and nature in our community and will lead to notable scientific outcomes,” Mr. Pittman said.

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At the Heritage Discovery Centre inside Hong Kong’s Kowloon Park, eager fans gathered early on Friday to catch a glimpse of the fossils.

Chong Got, 66, was one of the first to arrive.

“It’s shocking because I never thought there would be dinosaur fossils in Hong Kong.”

Billionaire investor Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of hedge fund Citadel, has shattered auction records by splurging $44.6 million for a dinosaur skeleton. According to the New York Post, Mr Griffin purchased the largest and the most intact stegosaurus skeleton at Sotheby’s on Wednesday, making it the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction.

Estimated to be 150 million years old, the behemoth dubbed “Apex,” was excavated just outside present-day Dinosaur, Colorado, in May 2022 by palaeontologist Jason Cooper. According to Sotheby’s, the Apex stegosaurus is the largest ever discovered, standing at an impressive 11 feet (3.3 meters) in height and 27 feet (8.2 meters) in length, with a remarkable 254 out of an estimated 319 bones preserved, making it nearly complete.

Mr Griffin secured the skeleton by outbidding six other participants in an auction that lasted 15 minutes. The skeleton, initially anticipated to sell for around $6 million, was purchased for $44.6 million, 11 times its lower estimate, marking a new record for dinosaur fossils. 

Watch the auction video here:

”Apex’ lived up to its name today, inspiring bidders globally to become the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction. This sale has been years in the making, and at every turn, we have worked closely with Jason Cooper, from the moment of its discovery in Dinosaur, Colorado, to its sale in New York,” said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s global head of science and popular culture in a statement.

According to Forbes, the hedge fund chief is a regular donor to the Republican party and has a net worth of approximately $37.8 billion. He now plans to loan the skeleton to institutions across the United States instead of keeping it for his private collection.

The first ever Stegosaurus fossil just hit auction and it fetched a whopping $44.6m USD when it sold at Sotheby’s New York — the largest sum paid for a dinosaur skeleton in history. pic.twitter.com/O7unz0vXSs

— HYPEBEAST (@HYPEBEAST) July 18, 2024

“Apex was born in America and is going to stay in America!” he said following the sale, according to CBS News.

In 2017, he donated $16.5 to Chicago’s Field Museum to fund an exhibit featuring the largest tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered.