Khon Kaen (Thailand) (AFP) – A dinosaur statue stands guard outside a Buddhist temple in Khon Kaen, while another, dressed in ceremonial robes, sits inside. In this corner of northeastern Thailand, prehistoric reptiles are everywhere.

Published on: 03/09/2026 - 12:57

Best known for its rice fields and spicy cuisine, the Isan region is now known as Thailand's "Jurassic Park".

Its arid soil is full of fossils which this year made it possible to identify two new species: Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, the largest dinosaur in Southeast Asia, and Uragasaurus kalasinensis, a long-necked herbivore.

Researchers hope to unveil a third in the coming months, which could bring the total number of dinosaur species discovered in Thailand to 16.

The country is "the nerve center" of paleontological research in Southeast Asia, according to visiting professor Richard Cloutier, of the University of Quebec at Rimouski.

If China, Mongolia and Russia remain privileged areas, experts believe that Thai soil offers important clues about the evolution of dinosaurs.

“Our country’s dinosaurs differ from those found elsewhere,” says Suravech Suteethorn of Maha Sarakham University. “The period of our discoveries fills a geological void, a missing link in the records of other countries.”

Nagatitan

The newly identified specimens were found about ten years ago, but demanding verification was necessary. Other fossils await their turn.

The university's shelves are bent under fossils of vertebrae, necks and legs that, to the untrained eye, look like chipped stones.

Countless remains are still buried, including in Phu Wiang National Park, a two-hour drive away, where Suravech Suteethorn and his father Varuvudh work on an excavation site.

Under a makeshift roof protecting them from the monsoon rain, they slowly remove pieces of a gigantic neck fossil that could be Thailand's next dinosaur discovery.

Suravech remains discreet on the details, but assures that its formalization, perhaps as early as this year, will “impress” the public.

“These new discoveries show the grandeur and richness of our country’s past,” he told AFP.

They come after the identification of Nagatitan, which lived around 100 to 120 million years ago, during the Lower Cretaceous, in what is now northeastern Thailand.

Last month, researchers unveiled Uragasaurus, a herbivore up to 20 meters long, the first such dinosaur discovered in Thailand.

Tourist attraction

The Isan region is particularly conducive to discoveries, confirms Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, from University College London, involved in research on Nagatitan.

Its dry climate and sparse vegetation leave fossiliferous rocks exposed, while its soil contains sedimentary layers of the right age to preserve dinosaur remains.

“I think and hope that the current ‘rush’ for dinosaurs in Thailand is only the beginning,” says the scientist.

These discoveries also attract tourists, in a country known more for its beaches and its gastronomy than its fossils.

A dinosaur museum opened in 2007 in Kalasin province and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

“I heard about dinosaurs a few months ago and I am curious to know more,” says retired Songyos Toongtubtim in another museum, in Khon Kaen.

The rise of paleontology in Thailand is happening despite limited funding, while teams must carry out costly expeditions to remote areas.

“We ask for help from the Thai government, but it is very difficult to get every time,” regrets Suravech.

A fan of Jurassic Park since he was little, the paleontologist says with humor that he is waiting for "the moment when a billionaire will support (his) project, like in the film".

© 2026 AFP

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