A mass death bed of mega fauna fossils in the Northern Territory could be promoted as NT tourist destination

A MASS death bed containing fossils of giant wombats, crocodiles and birds might soon be promoted as an NT tourist destination.

NT Museums Senior Curator of Earth Sciences, Adam Yates happily brushes sand from a recently exposed 8 Million Year Old Meg Fauna, Big Bird Bone.

A MASS death bed in the Northern Territory containing fossils of giant wombats, the “Arnold Schwarzenegger of crocodiles” and the biggest birds to ever roam the Earth might soon be promoted as a tourist destination.

Chief Minister Adam Giles described Alcoota, about 150km northeast of Alice Springs, as “one of the most important fossil sites in the world”.

“And it’s right here in our own backyard,” he said. “(Alcoota) is home to the fossilised bones of 3000 animals that died when Central Australia dried out 8 million years ago.

“These giant wombats, crocodiles and flightless birds are known as ‘megafauna’ and this is the most comprehensive collection anywhere in the country.

“I think lots of travellers would be keen to visit this site and get a first-hand look at this special piece of Australian natural history. I’m keen to talk about how we might be able to make that possible.”

The Giant Wombat known as Kolopsis Torus

Mr Giles said he had spoken with Alice Springs-based palaeontologist Dr Adam Yates about what resources were needed to utilise the site.

“I’m now asking for recommendations for how we can further uncover and explore the fossils to put them on display for the kids,” he said.

“And to find out more about our history and what we can do to support students in geological or palaeontology studies and what we can do to promote tourism in Central Australia and Alice Springs, and how we gain support for indigenous employment.

“I think (Alcoota) has the potential to be a very cherished jewel of the Northern Territory. But plans are only in their very early stages.”

Dr Yates said megafauna species had been uncovered but only a “tiny portion” of the area had been searched.

A team of scientists, including Dr Yates, will embark on another expedition in June.

“Previous finds in the area include a giant bird called Dromornis Stirtonim; it was probably the largest bird that lived on the planet ever,” Dr Yates said.

“It stood 3m tall and weighed approximately 500kgs.

“It would have looked vaguely like an emu, but with tiny little wings you wouldn’t have been able to see and ran around on great, big, strong legs, it was like a giant duck.”

Some of the most exciting finds on the site so far included jaw fragments of a “marsupial lion”.

“Every season we go back to find the skull of that animal,” Dr Yates said.

Dr Yates said super crocodiles once inhabited Alcoota before its aridification.

“Alcoota crocodiles were a lot more robust than modern day saltwater crocs,” he said.

“They were more strongly built, if you put an Alcoota crocodile alongside a modern day saltwater crocodile, the saltie would look flimsy, slender and weak.

“The Alcoota was like a saltie pumped up on steroids until it was the Arnold Schwarzenegger of crocodiles, with Freddie Krueger 15cm claws.”

The Marsupial Lion known as Wakaleo Alcootense