Stolen dinosaur fossils finally to be returned home

Mongolia has secured the recovery of 70–65-million-year-old dinosaur fossils from France that were illicitly exported from the country 12 years ago. The 29 sets of fossils include spines, claws, eggs, and other remains of T. rex and various dinosaur species.

Efforts to repatriate the artifacts began in 2016. Through long-term cooperation among Mongolian and French law-enforcement agencies, diplomatic missions, and relevant ministries, the Court of Appeal of Lyon ruled on June 10, 2025, to return all 29 sets of fossils to Mongolia. This decision concludes a decade-long legal process.