A new partnership between the Queensland Museum and mining giant BHP Billiton is aiming to unearth the fossil remains of prehistoric creatures found in regional Queensland.

It’s hoped they may provide a clue as to why these creatures became extinct.

Namrata Pingle reports.

TRANSCRIPT

These were some of the exciting new findings unveiled today as the result of the partnership between the mining giant and the Queensland Museum exploring our prehistoric history.

The $350,000 venture has so far unearthed the fossils of giant kangaroos, lizards, wombats and the world’s largest marsupial, Diprotodon, roughly the size of a small car.

Dr Ian Galloway, Queensland Museum CEO: “At this stage we’re looking at an exhibition and contribution to a major exhibition here at Queensland Museum. We’re looking at museum development officers in the Isaac region and Mackay region and new loans kits.”

Whereas mining giant BMC hopes the partnership will help enhance the company’s environmental and community profile.

Warren Pendelbury, BMC: “Community development is part of the portfolio and so where it makes sense for BHP to be invested in a community development projects, we do so.”

The research associated with the findings aims at providing vital clues about the future developments of Queensland’s ecosystems.

It’s hoped these discoveries will help paleontologists uncover the age-old mystery of how these prehistoric creatures became extinct.

Dr Scott Hocknull, Qld Museum paleontologist and curator: “Sites like this offer a major, major piece of that puzzle because we have no idea what was happening in the tropics at this time.”

The venture which will continue until 2013 and hopes to include a large museum display showcasing all dinosaur and mega fauna findings sometime next year.

Namrata Pingle, QUT News.