Toyota is lending a helping hand to a team of paleontologists from the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis who are surveying an undisclosed site in northern Wyoming. The team of scientists, led by world-renowned paleontologists Dr. Phil Manning and Dr. Victoria Egerton, are in the area looking for fossilized dinosaur bones. Toyota is supporting the expedition by lending a pair of Tundra pickups and a Land Cruiser to help carry the scientists, their gear, and whatever fossils they dig up.
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It’s not often that you hear about the world of paleontology on this site. Today’s an exception, though, because Toyota has found itself in the middle of a pretty exciting expedition. The Japanese automaker is supporting a team of scientists and paleontologists led by the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis’ Scientists-in-Residence, Dr. Phil Manning and Dr. Victoria Egerton. Together, the team went to an undisclosed location in northern Wyoming where evidence of dinosaur bones and fossils were found.
Considering the terrain they had to go through to get to their location and the fragility of the discoveries they unearthed, the team needed vehicles that could navigate miles upon miles of some of the most unforgiving terrain in the U.S.
That’s where Toyota came into the picture. The car brand lent a pair of Tundra pickups and a Land Cruiser to the expedition, and the scientists, at least according to Dr. Manning, couldn’t have picked better rides for their scientific trip.
“It’s an off-road adventure through a rough and tumble world that existed millions of years ago, at a time when there was a saltwater sea covering the area we’re presently exploring,” Dr. Manning said. “What the sea left behind was rugged terrain and steep slopes that are extremely hard and sometimes dangerous to traverse.”
It wasn’t just about the rugged, anything-goes terrain, it was also about carrying the fragile cargo they were discovering safely back to the museum. “Some of the bones we are discovering weigh hundreds of pounds and are brittle and very fragile. So, it’s imperative we excavate and transport them safely in vehicles that can smoothly handle the rough landscape.”
So far, the expedition has yielded benefits for all parties concerned. The scientists have already uncovered bones of a number of ancient animals, some dating back millions of years. They’re also on the trail for multiple dinosaur bones, which the plan to bring back as new exhibits in a section of the museum called the Dinosphere, one of the most immersive dinosaur exhibits in the U.S.
As for Toyota, the company’s involvement in the excavation extends past lending the two Tundras and the Land Cruiser to the team of scientists. The museum itself purchased a 2018 Highlander Hybrid for its personal use.
Further Reading
Read our full review on the 2019 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro.
Read our full review on the 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser.
Read our full review on the 2018 Toyota Highlander.