Kutch varsity, Delhi scientists clash over ichthyosaur fossil

AHMEDABAD: More than two and a half years since the fossil of a pre-Jurassic age ichthyosaur was found in Kutch, Gujarat, the reptile is caught in a tug-of-war.
Krantiguru Shyamji Krishna Verma Kachchh University (KSKVKU) has dug in its heels and is refusing to hand over the fossil to Delhi palaeontologists, claiming rights over the ichthyosaur.

During a paleontological excavation at Lodai village in February 2016, a complete ichthyosaur fossil was found. The seven-metre fossil was earlier believed to be that of a 145-million-year-old herbivorous dinosaur, but it was later established that this was a marine reptile.

The species existed during the Triassic and Jurassic ages, about 150 million years ago.

Paleontologists involved in the project said the Kutch university is refusing to allow them to take it to Delhi so its vertebrae can be arranged. Studying the vertebrae allows palaeontologists to know more of its behaviour, reproduction and appearance.

Dr G V R Prasad, who headed the excavation team and is the head of the geology department at the University of Delhi, said the Kutch team wanted to preserve the fossil locally.

“The fossil is lying in their geology department. We wanted to remove the rock matrix surrounding the skeleton to carry out a detailed study. For that, we need to prepare the skeleton, but that cannot be done at the Kutch university. So asked them to give it to us so that we could prepare it in Delhi, and return it. But the officials concerned in Kutch told us their vice-chancellor would not give us permission,” said Prasad.

“We only want to prepare it properly. They can then exhibit it. However, they are unwilling to part with it,” added Prasad.

Dr Subhash Bhandari, an associate professor in the geology department in Kutch, said the fossil has been wrapped in plaster of Paris and kept at the department’s museum. “We have written to the department of science and technology of the Union government for funds to preserve it. We want to display the entire skeleton here because it was excavated from Kutch and our faculty members and students played a vital role in the discovery. We will keep the fossil with us and will not hand it over to Delhi,” said Bhandari.

Dr C B Jadeja, vice-chancellor of the university, echoed what Bhandari had said.

He said a fossil museum is being built in Bhuj and they would either preserve it there or somewhere else in Kutch, according to the government’s instructions.