LAHORE: The Punjab University’s paleontological team claimed to have discovered 1.1 million years old elephant tusk from Gujrat-Kharian area.

A team of PU’s zoology department has been engaged in research and excavation in Kharian area. “The research scholars of zoology department have long been working at Pabbi of Rajo, Kharian and Sahawa and discovered a number of ancient fossils,” department Prof Muhammad Akthar told Dawn on Sunday.

He said the team discovered 1.1 million years old elephant tusk that belonged to an extinct genus of elephant family - Stegodon.

“It measures approximately 8 feet long and 8 inches in diameter. It is the largest tusk of this elephant species ever found in Pakistan and belongs to an old individual,” he said.

Bovid skulls with associated isolated teeth were recovered from Punjan Sher Shahana, Gujrat, from where the elephant skull was recovered previously, he said, adding skull and teeth belonged to Reduncine, a relative of antelopes of cattle family.

The team comprised Prof Akhtar, Dr Akbar Khan, Dr Abdul Majid Khan, Dr Abdul Ghaffar (COMSAT University) research scholar Ghyour Abbas, PhD Students Muhammad Asim, Muhammad Khalil Nawaz, Khalid Mahmood, Shabina Gull and Muhammad Ameen and some Mphil and MSc students.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2016