Dinosaur Footprints in Thailand Found by Tourist
A hiker's photograph on social media led scientists to discover 120-million-year-old dinosaur footprints in Thailand's Phu Phrabat National Park.
Imagine going on a weekend hike with your family and stumbling upon giant tracks pressed into solid rock! On 20 October 2026, scientists officially confirmed a thrilling find: ancient dinosaur footprints in Thailand that date back nearly 120 million years.
The adventure began in Phu Phrabat National Park, situated in the Udon Thani province of Thailand. A curious visitor named Pichai Prathetsena was walking near a rocky creek bed when he noticed strange marks that looked like giant clawed prints.
What happened?
Pichai was hiking near the Tat Noi Waterfall when he spotted the mysterious marks resting in a dry creek bed. Wondering if the shapes belonged to a creature from long ago, the 32-year-old took clear photographs of the rock. He then shared them on Facebook in a nature group named “What Animal Is This?” to ask fellow nature lovers for their thoughts.
The photographs quickly went viral online and caught the attention of experts from Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources (DMR). Paleontologists from the DMR’s Fossil Protection Bureau rushed to the scene alongside park rangers and officials from the Fine Arts Department to inspect the rocky bed.
When scientists examined the site, they were thrilled to find a continuous trackway with six distinct footprints preserved in sandstone. These ancient rocks belong to what geologists call the Phu Phan Formation, formed about 120 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period.
The experts confirmed that the impressions were left behind by a theropod—a two-legged, meat-eating dinosaur. They could tell because each print had three pointed toes showing sharp claw marks. Each footprint is about 29 centimetres long and 26 centimetres wide.
By measuring the distance between steps and the depth of the marks, scientists calculated that this ancient predator stood around 1.42 metres tall at its hip. From its snout to the tip of its tail, the dinosaur stretched to an impressive length of about 6.30 metres!
This exciting trackway is the very first officially verified dinosaur footprint trail ever recorded in Udon Thani province. To keep the precious impressions safe from rain and weather erosion, park authorities temporarily closed the location and started water-diversion plans. In the future, officials hope to open a special paleontological learning centre right there so children and families can study the ancient fossils up close.
Why does it matter to you?
This discovery shows that you do not need to be an adult scientist with a laboratory to make a huge historical discovery. Just by keeping your eyes open and staying curious during a family outing, you can notice wonders that others might walk straight past.
It also shows how science works like real-life detective work. By studying simple shapes pressed into stone millions of years ago, researchers can figure out how big an animal was, how it walked, and what it ate! Whether you are exploring hills in India or walking near a riverbank in your home town, being observant can lead to amazing secrets waiting right beneath your shoes.
Words to know
- Paleontologist: A scientist who studies fossils to learn about ancient life on Earth, including dinosaurs.
- Theropod: A group of two-legged, mostly meat-eating dinosaurs that often had sharp claws and three toes.
- Fossil: The preserved remains or traces of ancient animals and plants, such as bones or footprints hardened into rock.
- Erosion: The gradual wearing away of rocks and soil by natural forces like wind, rain, and moving water.
Did you know?
Theropods walked on two hind legs, and famous meat-eaters like Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor belong to this same large family of three-toed dinosaurs!
Think about it
If you discovered an unusual footprint or ancient mark while exploring outdoors with your family, what steps would you take to find out what creature left it?
Quick quiz
How many clear footprints were found along the dinosaur trackway in Thailand?
- Four footprints
- Six footprints
- Ten footprints
See the answer
Six footprints
Sources
This story was prepared by the Kids Gazette news desk with the help of AI research and writing tools, using the sources listed above.
