Since the discovery of Bukit Ambog (Ambug Hill) in the Tutong District, it has spurred an interest in fossil studies in the country. According to a science journal article, these outcrops, which are extremely rare in the northern part of Borneo, contain fossils from six to eight million years ago, from crabs to sharks, fishes, turtles, corals, seashells and plants, displaying the rich biodiversity of ancient ecosystems.
Despite its value to science, 90 per cent of clay containing the fossils has since been removed in the name of development. At the rate that we’re going, we will soon have no more fossils left to study, no way of knowing if more clues were hidden in those outcrops.
It is thus with great urgency that I call on the authorities as well as other stakeholders to find a way to preserve whatever is left of the outcrops. The site serves to advance our understanding of the distant past as well as attracts scholars from overseas to come and share their expertise with us. Given that one of our national goals is on strengthening our esearch capabilities, why not start with Bukit Ambog?
Science Nerd
