DC played a key role in the long-awaited and exciting return of fossils to Brazil! Brazil is receiving a truly precious shipment: 998 fossils ranging between 90 and 110 million years old and weighing more than 2 tons, which were recovered from France. These precious artifacts were illegally shipped 11 years ago, in 2012, without the due precautions being taken and the necessary authorization. This shipment was particularly relevant given that, under Brazil’s Federal Decree 4.146 of 1942, fossils are considered property of the state and cannot be transported outside the country.
In the years following the illegal transport of these fossils, a great deal of effort has been made to establish proof the illegal nature of these fossils having been transported and stored in Le Havre, France, in order for repatriation of the fossils to be authorized. Fortunately, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Regional University of Cariri, we were able to obtain the necessary authorization in bringing these important historical remains back to Brazil.
After documentation necessary for shipment of the fossils was issued, they were carefully packed in bubble wrap and loaded into wooden containment structures. The pallets carrying the packages fossils were properly treated, fumigated, and stamped as required by MAPA (Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock), thereby ensuring their integrity remained intact during the flight.
The fossils were packaged at DC Logistics Brazil’s partner warehouse in France, and were shipped directly from Le Havre’s local airport to Fortaleza before being stored and transported to the Regional University of Cariri – URCA along a specially designated route.
In May 2022, representatives from URCA participated in a symbolic celebration held in France by the local Judiciary, marking the official handing over of the fossils, which include not only traces of dinosaurs, such as the “Ubirajara jubatus” repatriated from Germany in 2023, but also a diverse range of other species. This precious collection consists of Pterosaurs, fish species, plants, insects and several other animal species, all which were found in the geologically and historically rich Chapada do Araripe canyon, located in Cariri, Ceará. The unique variety of specimens offered under this collection are sure to allow specialists to expand our knowledge of the history of life on Earth.
This journey will not only enrich the production of knowledge at URCA, home to the UNESCO-recognized Araripe Geopark and the renowned Placido Cidade Nuvens Museum of Paleontology, but also represents a crucial step forward in preserving Brazil’s natural history and making key advances in academic research.
Brazilian fossils touch down at Fortaleza Airport!
December 14th, 2023 was a landmark date in the history of Plácido Cidade Nuvens Museum of Paleontology, which is located in Santana do Cariri, as well as for the Regional University of Cariri (URCA). A valuable fossil collection was set to touch down at Fortaleza Airport, bringing with it a diverse and impressive wealth of paleontological artifacts, originally taken directly from Chapada do Araripe, a canyon located in Cariri, Ceará.
These valuable fossils were transported by DC Logistics Brazil, by a team specializing in the delivery of sensitive cargo. DC Logistics Brazil offers the expertise and attention to safety and care need to ensure that these precious paleontological remains were kept intact. We are extremely happy to have been part of such a momentous occasion and able ensure that these fossils arrived at their final destination with the required attention and safekeeping, helping contribute to academic research and preservation of the country’s historical and scientific heritage.
Stay tuned for more details and updates regarding the journey that led to these paleontological artifacts arriving in Brazil on our blog. This historical event is only the beginning of a new era of discovery and the dissemination of knowledge in Brazil. Keep up with the latest events at DC Logistics Brazil here and through our communication channels.