More

    Colombia’s ‘dinosaur of peace’

    FeaturesColombia’s ‘dinosaur of peace’
    - Advertisment -

    Colombia’s ‘dinosaur of peace’

    Colombia’s 2016 Peace Agreement has led to an unexpected outcome: the discovery of a new species of dinosaur.

    Researchers now know that, around 175 million years ago, a 12-metre long sauropod, roamed around an area of northern Colombia. The scientific world is attributing the discovery of this new species of herbivorous dinosaur to the improved security situation that exists in Colombia since the signing of a 2016 peace deal, which put an end to half a century of civil war.

    Just two years after the signing of the agreement, it was deemed safe for a group of researchers from the Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, and the University of Michigan, United States, to visit the Serranía del Perijá, and gather fresh data.

    Colombia peace agreement dinosaur Perijasaurus lapaz FARC-EP
    Professor Aldo Rincón and his guide, Pedro Pablo Contreras, conducting fieldwork in the Serranía del Perijá mountain range.
    Searching for clues, 80 years on

    The scientists returned to the place where a fossil of a dinosaur dorsal spine vertebra was found by a geologist working for an oil company in 1943. At the time no-one knew that it was part of a brand-new species and, after the find, the fossil was taken, along with some sediment samples, to the United States and given to the University of California scientific collection at Berkeley.

    - Advertisement -

    Aldo Rincón Burbano, professor at the Department of Physics and Geosciences at the Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla and one of the research leaders in Colombia, acknowledged that “without the security conditions provided in the area today, it would have been difficult to return to the field. This is due to the Peace Agreement.”

    Those security conditions are monitored by the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, which was established by the Security Council in 2017 to support the progress of the Peace Agreement, and verify the reintegration of former combatants of the FARC-EP rebel group and their families into Colombian society.

    Colombia peace agreement dinosaur Perijasaurus lapaz FARC-EP
    Félix Arango, a 64-year-old former FARC combatant, was one of Professor Aldo Rincón’s guides at the ETCR in Tierra Grata.
    From fighter to guide

    Former FARC-EP fighters provided logistical services, lodging, and guides for the researchers, as they tried to locate the site where the fossil had been unearthed some 80 years earlier.

    Félix Arango, a 64-year-old former FARC-EP combatant who now works on an ecotourism project in Tierra Grata, accompanied them on long walks, searching for the exact spot. “I didn’t know they were looking for a dinosaur because they were studying rocks; luckily I was familiar with the area because the former 41st front of the FARC operated there”.

    “We spent almost a year in the process, writing and searching, and although we didn’t find any new fossils, we managed to get to the site and find the same sediment collected alongside the vertebra in 1943”, says Mr. Rincón. “By studying the sediment, we were able to conclude that the vertebra was from a new genus, and a new species.”

    They named the species Perijasaurus lapaz: the first part after the place where it was found, and the second as a tribute to the historic Peace Agreement. The dinosaur is similar to other sauropods of this period found in Asia, North Africa, and southern Patagonia, which were smaller than the later dinosaurs belonging to this group.

    “We still must look for more fossils in rocks of the same age in other areas of the country. Including the Tatacoa desert in Huila; the Girón area in Santander; and Nobsa in Boyacá,”, says Mr. Rincón.

    Mr. Arango, the former combatant who accompanied Mr. Rincón and his team, says that, hopefully, these other investigations can also tell the story of the experience of former combatants, who now, thanks to peace, play a different role in society.

    Image: Digital reconstruction of Perijasaurus lapaz, a dinosaur discovered in Serranía del Perijá, northern Colombia.

    - Advertisement -

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    Latest news

    India Among Six Most Affected Countries by Extreme Weather Events

    The long-term assessment of the CRI 2025, covering data from 1993 to 2022, places India as the sixth most affected country globally due to extreme weather events. Over this period, India reported a staggering loss of 80,000 lives and economic damages amounting to $200 billion.

    Calculated, Coordinated Crackdown – UN Report Uncovers Systematic Repression in Bangladesh Protests

    The mass mobilisation saw participation from people across different backgrounds, including women and children. Faced with this growing opposition, the former government resorted to increasingly violent means to maintain power. The UN report describes a deliberate strategy orchestrated at the highest levels of the former administration.

    Adani Green Energy Withdraws from $1 Billion Wind Power Project in Sri Lanka

    There has been a raging debate in Sri Lanka on the deal, citing it as an expensive deal. The earlier government had agreed to purchase power from Adani’s 484-megawatt wind power project at a rate of 8.26 US cents per unit under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

    IMF Chief Reaffirms Support for Pakistan’s Reforms in Meeting with Shehbaz Sharif

    Georgieva praised Pakistan’s efforts in implementing the IMF-supported program, acknowledging the country’s improving economic performance with rising growth and declining inflation. She recognized Pakistan’s economic recovery and noted that it is on a positive trajectory.
    - Advertisement -

    In the Lok Sabha: Government Reports Significant Progress on Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

    Eligible projects include warehouses, silos, cold chains, logistics facilities, and smart precision agriculture infrastructure. Loan applicants must contribute at least 10 per cent of the project cost, and an entity can apply for up to 25 projects, each eligible for a loan of up to Rs. 2 crore.

    In the Lok Sabha: Over 68,000 Lakes Constructed as Part of Mission Amrit Sarovar

    With the successful completion of more than 68,000 Sarovars ahead of schedule, the government has now launched the second phase of Mission Amrit Sarovar. This phase will emphasise ensuring sustainable water availability and climate resilience, with community participation (Jan Bhagidari) being the core focus.

    Must read

    India Among Six Most Affected Countries by Extreme Weather Events

    The long-term assessment of the CRI 2025, covering data from 1993 to 2022, places India as the sixth most affected country globally due to extreme weather events. Over this period, India reported a staggering loss of 80,000 lives and economic damages amounting to $200 billion.

    Calculated, Coordinated Crackdown – UN Report Uncovers Systematic Repression in Bangladesh Protests

    The mass mobilisation saw participation from people across different backgrounds, including women and children. Faced with this growing opposition, the former government resorted to increasingly violent means to maintain power. The UN report describes a deliberate strategy orchestrated at the highest levels of the former administration.
    - Advertisement -

    More from the sectionRELATED
    Recommended to you