Summary
A triceratops skeleton named "Trey," which was displayed in a Wyoming museum, is going up for auction with a high estimated value. The sale comes as dinosaur fossils become popular and valuable collectibles, sometimes selling for millions of dollars. Concerns exist that important fossils could end up in private collections, limiting scientific research.
Key Facts
- The triceratops skeleton "Trey" will be auctioned online from March 17 to 31.
- Trey is estimated to sell for between $4.5 million and $5.5 million.
- The skeleton was discovered in Wyoming in 1993 and displayed in a museum until 2023.
- Trey is currently in Singapore, available for private viewings.
- Dinosaur fossils are increasingly viewed as investments, with some selling for record prices.
- In 2024, a stegosaurus skeleton named "Apex" sold for $44.6 million.
- Some paleontologists worry fossils in private hands may limit research opportunities.
- There's a trend of private owners loaning fossils to museums for public display and scientific study.
