Tourist Finds 130-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Tracks in Udon Thani
A tourist says he discovered 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints in a waterfall stream at Phu Hin Chom Thao-Phu Phra Bat National Park in Udon Thani. Officials found four tracks about 32 cm long, spaced roughly 80 cm apart, and suspect they belong to a carnivorous dinosaur seven to eight meters long. Experts are still analyzing the prints to confirm their authenticity and potential significance for education and tourism.
On October 19, 2026, reporters updated the story of a tourist who found mysterious tracks resembling dinosaur footprints in the Tad Noi waterfall stream within Phu Hin Chom Thao-Phu Phra Bat National Park, Ban Phue District, Udon Thani. Officials later inspected the area and identified four tracks, each measuring about 32 centimeters from heel to toe, with a gap of roughly 80 centimeters between the first and second prints. Experts speculate the tracks could belong to a meat‑eating dinosaur that lived at least 130 million years ago and was about seven to eight meters long, but final confirmation awaits specialist analysis. Park chief Winai Thongpan said the site lies at the headwaters of Huai Yai creek that feeds the Tad Noi waterfall, and that a visitor first noticed the marks while walking along the streambed with his children. The visitor, identified as Pitichai, a 32‑year‑old employee of the Tung Fon municipality, said he initially thought the three‑toed impressions were dinosaur tracks and later spotted several fainter similar marks nearby. He did not alert park staff immediately, but after viewing his photos at home he posted them online, prompting the rapid spread and subsequent official investigation. Authorities have now contacted the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department and the Mineral Resources Department to conduct a detailed examination of the tracks’ shape, size, orientation, and the surrounding geology. If confirmed, the footprints could enhance the site’s educational value and lead to the development of a new natural learning attraction for Udon Thani, although experts stress that further study is needed to verify the age, species and exact origin of the prints.
