ISLAMABAD, Jan 22: French archaeologist Professor Jean-Loup Welcomme, who discovered the mammals, which lived on earth, during excavations in Bugti hills in 1999, presented two skulls to officials of the Museum of Natural History in Islamabad at a reception held here on Thursday evening.

The French embassy, charge d' affaires, Ms Francoise Maylie, hosted the reception. Earlier, Prof Welcomme delivered a lecture and presented a documentary at the National Science Foundation auditorium. Prof Welcomme started his research in the Bugti hills in 1994 and in 1999 he made the historic discovery of the biggest mammals, identified as 'Balouchitere'.

"All those years have been very exciting. The discoveries we have made there have changed so much, which were being believed to be true in the past," Prof Welcomme said.

"It is a revolution in the knowledge regarding the pre-history of the region. Recently, a book telling the adventure of the 'Mission francaise de Paleontology' in the Bugti hills has been published," Ms Maylie said.

She said the discovery of the 'Balouchitere' had generated new projects yet to be implemented. "We hope, first of all that both the Museums of Natural History in Islamabad and in Paris, will be able to realize a casting of the skeleton, which would be placed in the 'Galerie de l'evolution' in Paris," Ms Maylie said.

Prof Welcomme presented the skulls to Dr Syed Rafiqul Hassan Baqri, the Member Science of the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), who was accompanied by Dr Farid A. Malik, Chairman of the PSF.

"We are very pleased to receive this from Prof Welcomme. Tomorrow we are going to put this thing on display at a prominent and appropriate place in the Museum of Natural History here. You can come over and have a look at this there," Dr Hassan Baqri told the reporters present at the function. Dr Welcomme, who started his research in Bugti area back in 1984 developed first scientific contacts with the Pakistani counterparts in the year 2000. Our Reporter adds:

Earlier, speaking to the scientists, and diplomats on the occasion of presentation of the documentary on the mammal, the PSF chairman, Dr Farid Malik said the pre-historic wildlife and natural history of Pakistan should be taught at college and school levels to make the younger generation aware of it.

He said the film was a result of collaborative research and commitment to work on new concepts. "The fossils of Balochitherium are exceptional discovery, and the country should be proud of its natural heritage."

Dr welcome after the excavation and collection of Balochitherium fossils, arranged them in the form of skeleton. The film shows how this skeleton was later transformed into the moving giant creature through computer animation. The film also shows the happenings in the geological past around 30 million years ago in the Bugti Hills of Pakistan, which had perhaps luxuriant green forests at that time.