JEDDAH: The fossils team of the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) has discovered a 225-cm long tusk of an extinct species of elephant in the Nafud Desert in the Kingdom’s northwest.
SGS President Dr. Zuhair bin Abdul Hafeez Nawab said the team discovered the tusk in sediment of ancient lakes during joint field work with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), Oxford University, the German Max Planck Institute, and researchers from Australia and Spain.
This tusk is considered a rare specimen and excellently preserved, containing information about the geological history, environment and ancient climate of the Arabian Peninsula.
The SGS had previously discovered remains of large extinct mammals in the same area, including elephants, horses, oxen, deer, oryx, hyenas, wild dogs and birds of prey.
More than 80 percent of the remains of an extinct giant elephant was collected from the same site. These samples are displayed in the SGS museum.
The SGS is an official body in charge of studying the Kingdom’s fossils and geological history.
Tusk of extinct species of elephant discovered in Saudi Nafud Desert
Tusk of extinct species of elephant discovered in Saudi Nafud Desert
US embassy in Riyadh attacked with drones: Saudi defense ministry
- The embassy issued a shelter in place notice for Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said early Tuesday that eight drones were intercepted and destroyed near Riyadh and Al-Kharj.
In an earlier statement, the ministry’s spokesperson said preliminary assessments indicated that two drones had targeted the US Embassy in Riyadh.
The incident caused a limited fire and minor material damage to the building.
A statement from the Saudi foreign ministry condemned Iran’s attack on the US embassy building in Riyadh.
Reports from early Tuesday morning described a loud blast and visible flames at the American embassy, with black smoke rising over Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, where many foreign missions are located. According to Reuters, two sources said there were no reported injuries, as the building was empty at the time of the incident in the early morning hours.
In a post published on X, the US Embassy to the Kingdom announced a security alert for Tuesday. The embassy stated it would remain closed and that all routine and emergency American Citizen Services appointments had been cancelled.
The shelter-in-place notification for Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran remains active, and American citizens in the Kingdom were advised to continue to abide by it.
The embassy also urged people to avoid its premises until further notice due to the attack on the facility. Travelers were encouraged to review the most recent Security Alerts, reconsider travel plans in case of possible disruptions, and make decisions that prioritize their safety and that of their families.
