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| Dr Tan Swee Hee with dinosaur from Would we have dinosaurs in Singapore? |
Why dinosaurs? Should Singapore feature American dinosaurs? Why so expensive? Here's more about the dinosaurs from a Sunday Times article by Tan Dawn Wei yesterday:
Why dinosaurs?
'The idea was always to have a central gallery and put something there that would make people go 'Whoa!'' said Professor Peter Ng, director of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.
Dr Tan Swee Hee also shares why he feels dinosaurs will add that special 'magic' to a museum, especially for kids.
Should Singapore feature American dinosaurs?
Those behind the new museum did ponder the question of whether American dinosaurs had a place in a museum showcasing Asia's natural heritage. Such issues were put to the museum's scientific advisory committee, which took a few days to deliberate before coming back with a 'yes'.
According to the Sunday Times, dinosaur exhibitions here have so far showcased replicas, not the real thing.Thailand is the only South-east Asian country that has dinosaurs, found in the north and featured in two dinosaur museums there.
Where were the dinosaurs found?
Dinosauria International, a Wyoming-based fossil company that found the three remains between 2007 and last year in Ten Sleep, a small town in the American state.
The dinosaurs are real, sure or not?
To establish that the finds are real, the museum checked with fellow scientists around the world, looked at the scientific paper that had been written about the discoveries, and sent a team to Wyoming.
Why so expensive?
The dinosaur finds are special. The two adults and one baby were found together and could well be a family. They are over 80 per cent complete, a rarity as far as dinosaur discoveries are concerned. The $12 million figure includes the purchase price as well as mounting an accompanying exhibition.
Mr Raimund Albersdoerfer, a partner at Dinosauria International, said he is reserving the three dinosaurs for Singapore, although there are interested foreign buyers, including private collectors.
'Because of the scientific value, we will sell only to major public institutions or museums in order to secure them for scientific research and public accessibility,' Mr Albersdoerfer told The Sunday Times.
You CAN help get the dinosaurs to Singapore!
Raffles Museum has approached donors of its building fund and other potential donors. A public donation drive has also been launched on its website, http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/dino/dino-online.html.
Full article on the dinosaurs and a look at the new natural history museum on wildsingapore news.
See also A sneak peek at Singapore's new natural history museum and How I was smitten by dinosaurs
More media articles and comments in the media on wildsingapore news
- The dinosaurs are coming! Straits Times 7 Sep 11;
- Purchase of 3 dinosaurs at risk Less than $2m of immediate $8m needed raised as new deadline looms Tan Dawn Wei Straits Times 14 Aug 11;
- Consider other sources of dinosaur fossils by Chen Bin Straits Times Forum 25 Jul 11;
- Is spending $12m on bones the best option? by Lo Chung Straits Times Forum 25 Jul 11;
- Alternative ways to inspire and awe by Fiona Tan (Ms) Straits Times Forum 25 Jul 11;
- Museum can be national, international repository by Ng Junrong, Straits Times Forum 22 Jul 11;
- Museums are meant to be expansive by Liang Kaicheng Straits Times Forum 22 Jul 11;
- Dinosaurs part of Singapore's 'deep' history by Professor Rudolf Meier, Professor Peter Ng, Professor Leo Tan Straits Times Forum 19 Jul 11;
- A history museum for all ages by Grace Chua Straits Times Blogs 18 Jul 11;
- Why we need dinos: The $12m skeletons are worth having for their power to inspire and awe by Ignatius Low Sunday Times 17 Jul 11;
- What have dinosaurs got to do with Singapore? Museum's $12m pursuit of dino skeletons from US makes no sense, by Ong Sor Fern Straits Times 16 Jul 11;
