Mongolia Struggles to Combat Dinosaur Fossil Smugglers

Monday, February 26, 2018

Visitors to a "ger" (tent) camp walk past large dinosaur sculptures used as a gimmick to promote the camp at the Terelj National Park near Ulan Bator, Mongolia. May 27, 2005. (File Photo /AP Archive)

Mongolia's Gobi desert is the world's biggest fossil reservoir. Many of the bones excavated have been lost to smugglers. The country now is campaigning to return the remains to their rightful home.

Mongolian laws have been strengthened to protect dinosaur fossils from being smuggled after the country lost some of the finest examples.

International co-operation to bring fossils back to Mongolia has been growing and has resulted in 22 returns in 2013 alone.