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BOB HIRSHON (host):
Reclaiming poached dinosaurs. I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.
Mongolia is a hotbed of dinosaur research, thanks to the thousands of bones and even complete skeletons preserved there by ancient mudslides. But it’s also popular with fossil poachers, who sell the specimens in auctions abroad. Paleontologist Bolortsetseg Minjin is director of the Institute for the Study of Mongolian Dinosaurs. She has worked to repatriate over thirty dinosaur skeletons back to Mongolia, is building a museum there to house them, and is conducting education programs.
BOLORTSETSEG MINJIN (Institute for the Study of Mongolian Dinosaurs):
We really want to make it available to Mongolian public – to know about these discoveries, to be part of these discoveries, and really encourage next generations to go to this science field.
HIRSHON:
In recognition of her work, Dr. Bolortsetseg recently received the Award for Excellence from the Alf Museum of Paleontology in Claremont, CA. I’m Bob Hirshon, for AAAS, the science society.
Story by Bob Hirshon