Houston attorney who helped save dinosaur bones wins Mongolia's highest honor
A Houston attorney who helped to return a rare Tyrannosaurus skeleton to Mongolia has received that Asian nation's top honor - the Order of the Polar Star.
The case began May of last year, when the office of the president of Mongolia contacted attorney Robert Painter to stop an auction of the huge treasured Tyrannosaurus bataar, which was scheduled that month in New York.
After obtaining a temporary restraining order from a Texas court, Painter flew to New York to make sure the sale of the fossil did not proceed. The huge fossil had been illegally smuggled out of the country.
On May 6 of this year, at the United Nations, U.S. officials signed a repatriation agreement to return the 70-million-year-old skeleton returned to its rightful owners. Painter also received the Polar Star award from Mongalian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.
The Tyrannosaurus bataar will be greeted back in Mongolia later this month, where it will be specimen No. 1 in the new Central Dinosaur Museum in Ulan Bator, Mongolia's capital.
The case began May of last year, when the office of the president of Mongolia contacted attorney Robert Painter to stop an auction of the huge treasured Tyrannosaurus bataar, which was scheduled that month in New York.
After obtaining a temporary restraining order from a Texas court, Painter flew to New York to make sure the sale of the fossil did not proceed. The huge fossil had been illegally smuggled out of the country.
On May 6 of this year, at the United Nations, U.S. officials signed a repatriation agreement to return the 70-million-year-old skeleton returned to its rightful owners. Painter also received the Polar Star award from Mongalian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.
The Tyrannosaurus bataar will be greeted back in Mongolia later this month, where it will be specimen No. 1 in the new Central Dinosaur Museum in Ulan Bator, Mongolia's capital.
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