India’s Fossils at Risk of Being Sold Abroad

Context

• India has rich fossil beds, especially in Kutch (Gujarat), Madhya Pradesh, and Deccan basins.

• Recent find: Vasuki indicus (47-million-year-old, ~15 m long snake) in Panandhro lignite mine, Kutch.

• Lack of laws and institutions puts fossils at risk of theft, vandalism, or illicit sale abroad.

Fossil Heritage of India

• Mesozoic fossils: Dinosaurs, early reptiles, ammonites.

• Cenozoic fossils: Early whales (Indohyus), ancestral horses.

• Human remains: Ancient skulls and plant fossils.

• Result of India’s unique evolutionary history – isolation after Gondwanaland (150 mya) and later Himalayan collision (50–60 mya).

Current Challenges

1. No Legal Protection

   • Unlike antiquities (protected under the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972), fossils have no specific legislation.

   • Open sale online and in global auctions.

2. Theft & Commercialisation

   • Fossils stolen from museums (e.g., dinosaur eggs in Mandav, MP).

   • Sold at auctions abroad (e.g., Stegosaurus fossil sold for $44.6 million at Sotheby’s, 2024).

   • High demand from private collectors, including celebrities.

3. Institutional Gaps

   • No national fossil repository despite draft proposals.

   • Private collections (e.g., Ranga Rao–Obergfell Trust in Dehradun) remain unsorted and vulnerable.

4. Unsung Custodians

   • Local enthusiasts (e.g., Vishal Verma in MP) rescue fossils, but lack resources and security.

Global Parallels & Concerns

• USA: ~71 T. rex fossils in private hands; only 61 in public institutions (Thomas Carr study, 2024).

• Fossils increasingly treated as luxury collectibles rather than scientific resources.

• UNESCO regards fossils as part of world natural heritage.

Implications for India

• Loss of scientific knowledge: Fossils provide key insights into evolution (dinosaurs → whales → mammals).

• Cultural & natural heritage loss: Similar to antiquities stolen and auctioned abroad.

• Tourism & education impact: Fossil parks and museums remain underdeveloped compared to global standards.

Way Forward

1. Legal Framework

   • Enact a Fossil Protection Act (on lines of Antiquities Act).

   • Prohibit private sale; mandate reporting of finds.

2. Institutional Measures

   • Establish a National Fossil Repository & Museum Network.

   • Digitisation and cataloguing of existing collections.

3. Community Involvement

   • Incentivise local custodians and amateur fossil hunters.

   • Awareness campaigns on heritage value.

4. International Cooperation

   • Strengthen monitoring with UNESCO & INTERPOL for fossil trafficking.

   • Push for return of stolen fossils like stolen antiquities.