The 23 million year old fossil was discovered by David Attenborough in Malta.
Valletta:
Malta, making a quick U-turn, said on Tuesday that Britain’s Prince George was welcome to keep a fossilized shark tooth given to him by veteran naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
The 23 million year old fossil was discovered by Attenborough in Malta while on vacation on the Mediterranean island in the 1960s.
He gave it to George, 7, over the weekend, raising the hackles of some Maltese, who thought the tooth should be returned to them. Culture Minister Jose Herrera said on Monday he would “get the ball rolling” by getting the tooth back, but the plan quickly fell through.
“It is not (our) intention to pursue this matter,” said a spokesperson for the ministry, without giving any explanation for the sudden change of mind.
Herrera’s decision on Monday drew negative comments on social media, with critics pointing out that fossilized teeth of megalodon sharks can be purchased for less than $ 50.
Matthew Caruana Galizia, son of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was murdered in Malta three years ago, wrote on Twitter that Herrera should campaign to fight corruption rather than try to take a gift from a child.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
