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Hey everyone, A recent article I have recently read about Stan the T.Rex returning to the hands of researchers after the whole ordeal of the auction I started thinking about the ethical side of collecting fossils. I live in a country where the only way I can get fossils for my collection is through purchase so no way I own a scientifically significant fossil since those would go for prices I could never afford, but I was wondering what you guys think about privately owning a scientifically significant fossil that you may have found or even bought. I know that it can go into a discussion of "what even is private property" but I think we should focus on the aspect of losing out on the research that would advance our knowledge about those animals vs the fact many of those same fossils would have eroded away if not for private collectors. I know many in this forum are Paleontologists (I intend to become one myself, after finishing my Biology degree) themselves and also collectors that provide specimens that they find for research and even donate them. I was wondering what everyone thinks.

“@Monica Yes, there are just so many fossils here that now only the best material is actually collected. This usually means anything articulated or reasonably complete. Isolated bones like the ones in my pictures are all pretty much ignored, which is sad, as yes they will inevitably just erode away. I think there needs to be a better system personally. It doesn't make sense to just let these great fossils be destroyed by the elements. But if collecting was allowed how could it be regulated to make sure only expendable material was taken? And how would you stop people then selling those bones for a profit? It's a hard situation, you want to save the fossils, but letting collectors take things opens up a bunch of other issues as well.” @Paleoworld-101 I have a idea for this. What if they would have a setup of some sort at the entrance of the park where the park staff would check to see if you have collected any valuable specimens. If not you would have legal ownership over the fossil, they would do this to teach people about there fossil recourse and so the fossils would not sit there and erode away over time since they would be able to bring some fossils home and learn about them. Keeping the good specimens to the Palaeontologist but the other fossils that are no use to the Palaeontologist to the guest preventing these fossils to erode away and keeping all Paleontological and geological recourses and history. This is just something I was thinking after reading this in @Paleoworld-101s topic probably won’t happen though.

Article about recent court ruling on ownership of dinosaur bones, the holder of the mineral rights or the surface land rights. https://www.apnews.com/edf5eefad9664ed3a1886a8aaf0251c1 Cheers, SA2