There are a series of dinosaur fossils that were taken from Tanzania in the early part of the 20th century. These fossils include a girafatitan that was the basis for brachiasaurus, which was taken from Tendaguru in 1909, after a German expedition in the fossil season of 1908/1909. The fossil still poses in the lobby of the Museum für Naturkunde – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science. The scientists of Tanzania have been demanding the return of this fossil for years. Unfortunately, Ramo Makani, the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism has declared that it is not profitable to sue for the return of these fossils, nor is Germany inclined to return them.

Dear Director General, Doctor Johannes Vogel,

    Werner Janensch, a German paleontologist, found a girafatitan in 1908, which was exported illegally to your institution in 1909. It has rested there ever since, despite the return of other artifacts and fossils to Tanzania by your government. In addition, German scientists have worked with those from Tanzania since 2000 to recover other fossils from this location. We ask for reparation for fossils stolen in the form of a museum/university for the study of Tanzanian paleontology, the return of the girafatitan, and assistance in developing the paleontology program. For this, we look forward to further work with your scientists in the extension of paleontological knowledge, including that being done at Olduvai Gorge.

Thank you