BANGKOK, Thailand – The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has confirmed the discovery of six fossilized footprints left by a carnivorous dinosaur approximately 120 million years ago in Udon Thani province. Found in Ban Phue district within the proposed Phu Hin Chom That–Phu Phra Bat National Park, the tracks are the province’s first confirmed evidence of carnivorous dinosaur footprints.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin ordered an investigation after images of unusual impressions circulated on social media. Geological specialists examined the site and confirmed that the six footprints formed a single trackway belonging to a theropod, a group of predominantly meat-eating dinosaurs that walked on two legs. The tracks were preserved in sandstone dating to the Early Cretaceous Period.
The three-toed footprints measure approximately 29 centimeters long and 26 centimeters wide. Based on their size, geologists estimate the dinosaur stood about 1.42 meters tall at the hips and measured roughly 6.3 meters long. Its estimated dimensions are comparable to those of “Siamotyrannus isanensis,” a theropod previously discovered in Thailand, although the exact species that left the tracks remains unknown.
The DMR is coordinating with national park authorities and the Fine Arts Department to protect the site from visitor disturbance and water erosion. Officials are also considering opportunities for scientific research, geological education, and future tourism development. (NNT)
