PREVIEW

A huge dinosaur skeleton, nicknamed "Vulcain," has sold for €6 million (£5.2 million) at an auction near Paris, one of the highest prices ever achieved for such a specimen in France.

The 150-million-year-old Apatosaurus, excavated in Wyoming, is one of the most complete dinosaur skeletons ever auctioned, with 80% of its bone mass intact. Measuring 20.5 metres (67 feet) in length, the herbivorous dinosaur had been on display at Château de Dampierre-en-Yvelines since July, drawing over 40,000 visitors who affectionately dubbed it "La Bête de Dampierre" (The Beast of Dampierre).
The sale, conducted by French auction houses Collin du Bocage and Barbarossa, took place in front of a live audience at the château. The buyer, whose representative was present at the auction, plans to loan the skeleton to a museum, ensuring public access to this prehistoric marvel.

"This auction is a significant moment for palaeontology and one of the highest prices ever achieved for a dinosaur skeleton in France," said auctioneer Olivier Collin du Bocage.

Professor Eric Mickeler, a palaeontology expert and curator at the Dinosauria Museum Prague, commented that the sale marked "one of the highest records for a herbivorous dinosaur."
While Vulcain’s sale fetched an impressive price, it falls short of world records for carnivorous dinosaurs like the T-Rex "Stan" ($31.8 million) and the Stegosaurus "Apex" ($44.6 million).
The Apatosaurus skeleton has captivated French audiences since its arrival in July, sparking imagination and interest in natural history.