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Fossil hunting in the Mongolian Gobi – Explorers Club use new technology to unearth dinosaurs on commemorative expedition

The Explorers Club will follow a route set by a famous adventurer as they aim to uncover fossils in the Gobi

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Roy Chapman Andrews explored the Gobi in the 1920s and uncovered fossils that proved dinosaurs were reptiles. The Explorers Club will emulate his expedition almost a century later. Photo: American Museum of Natural History
Mark Agnew

Hongkongers are heading to the Gobi Desert, armed with new technology, to unearth fossils 100 years after a historic expedition changed the face of palaeontology.

Michael Barth, chairman of The Explorers Club Hong Kong Chapter, said: “The Gobi expedition marks roughly the 100-year anniversary of Roy Chapman Andrews’ historic discovery of the first-ever nest of fossilised dinosaur eggs, which not only proved that dinosaurs were reptilian, but opened up Mongolia for future discoveries.”

The Gobi Desert is so sparsely populated that hunting for fossils without new technologies such as drones is near impossible. Photo: Shutterstock
The Gobi Desert is so sparsely populated that hunting for fossils without new technologies such as drones is near impossible. Photo: Shutterstock
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The Explorers Club Hong Kong Chapter is taking 35 of its members into rural Mongolia in a fleet of Infiniti SUVs, along with Drone Lidar technology, to cover areas that were previously impossible to inspect.

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Paul Niel, who climbed around the entire of Hong Kong’s coast line, is a member of the expedition.

“I’m looking forward to the unique scenery of the southern Gobi, using cutting edge technology to find dinosaur fossils, working with experts from different fields,” he said, but added the long drives and work in the sun is going to be challenging despite the comfort of the SUVs.

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