UP Officials Discover 5-Million-Years-Old Elephant Fossils While Scouting for New Tiger Reserve

Good intentions often lead to much better consequences. A camera-trap study in the reserve forests near Dehradun, to develop a new tiger reserve, led to the discovery of one of the world’s oldest fossil remains of elephants, dating back to 5 million years. Also Read - Longer Hours in Bed During Lockdown Has Worsen Sleep Patterns, Reveals Study

The rare fossils of elephants suggests that foothills of Himalayas, the beautiful lush green Terai region in Uttarakhand and UP, were once inhabited by giant elephants, giraffes, horses and hippopotamus. “Maybe in the next phase of study, we may be lucky enough to discover fossils of some more rare animals (Stegodon, the extinct subfamily of big elephants).

Top scientists of prestigious Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, are providing technical expertise in this endeavour,” said Sanjay Kumar, a 2002 batch IAS officer. Also Read - Air India: Work Less, Take Less Salary, Air India's New Scheme For Permanent Employees to Save Money