SEPTEMBER 28: Paleontologists the world over are immersed in the study of the evolution and extinction of these creatures that left their footprints 65 million years ago. Atul Joshi, professor at the Department of Geology at Vadadora's M S University, displayed his collection of fossil eggs at a press conference organised by Discovery Channel on September 27. A sedimentologist excavating the lamenta formation of a site at the Bagh village in Madhya Pradesh since 1987, Prof Joshi made his first discovery in the 1992-1993 field season. In 1994, he found another clutch of five eggs, though he was unable to unearth them.After an analysis of literature available in India regarding the presence of dinosaurs in the country, Joshi attributed the eggs to the sauropod group of dinosaurs. ``Each egg is spherical and 18 cm in diametre,'' revealed an elated Joshi. Though the eggs date back 65 million years ago, Joshi declared that the shell layer is still well preserved. ``The discovery will enable me to better comprehend the paleo-climatic conditions of the site,'' he said. Joshi also stressed on the findings made by Indian paleontologists in other parts of the country - Jabalpur, Keda and Panchamal districts of Gujarat, Kutch and Tamil Nadu.To counter the image of the dinosaur being a giant, man-eating reptile, Discovery Channel in collaboration with the BBC has produced Walking With Dinosaurs, an animated natural history programme attempting to trace the evolution of the different species of dinosaurs from existing evidence in places like Chile and Australia. The programme, to be aired on October 2, has not incorporated the literature and findings of paleontologists in India as a volume of information is required as a foundation to expand upon.
