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Dr Long, who joined the Western Australian Museum in 1989, is an award winning scientist and international expert on Australian dinosaurs, Antarctic palaeontology (study of fossils) and fish evolution.
" We need to know about the Earth?s history to comprehend the future. Palaeontology is not only about the past - it is as relevant in today?s world as other disciplines. For example, it can help us understand major environmental issues like the Greenhouse Effect, changing climates and the extinction of species."
Dr Long, 2002
The Museum decided to mount an expedition, Operation Leo, to examine the specimens in situ and collect them as soon as possible, because of the risk that they could be damaged or stolen. Traditional Aboriginal owners of the land were consulted about the expedition.
The expedition leader, Dr Long, assembled a team for a recovery expedition in July.
The team included:
- Dr Gavin Prideaux from Flinders University, an expert on megafauna who has worked on Western Australian caves.
- A camera crew from the Museum?s Documentary Unit.
- Cavers Ken Boland, Ray Gibbons, Peter Ackroyd, Paul Devine and Eve Taylor.
- Matt Cupper from Melbourne University.
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