Rare Dodo Bone Fossil For Auction At Christie's In London

One deep-pocketed fossil lover will have the chance to buy a rare, fossilized femur fragment of the extinct dodo when it goes on the auction block in London next month.

Christie's South Kensington reports the bone fragment to be the first dodo bone to come to auction in London since 1934, and it expects a special breed of bird enthusiast to have much interest in the sale, which the auction house expects will fetch up to $22,679 (15,000 British pounds).

The dodo, which was native to the island of Mauritius, east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, was first recorded by Dutch sailors in 1598, only to be driven to extinction in the late 17th century, about 100 years after its discovery.

The bone fragment from the small flightless bird is reportedly four-inches long, and according to Christie's was "almost certainly" excavated in 1865 at Mare aux Songes in the southeast of Mauritius during a celebrated dig by the natural historian George Clark. The first subfossil remains of dodos were reportedly excavated at Mare aux Songes.

"As an icon of extinction, the dodo is second to none. From its appearance in "Alice in Wonderland" to the expression 'dead as dodo', the bird has cemented its place in our cultural heritage, said James Hyslop, head of Travel, Science and Natural History at Christie's.

"This exciting discovery is one of the few pieces of dodo material in private hands, and it is a privilege, and humbling experience, to have been entrusted with the bone. It is a reminder of the effect humans have on the natural world, and presents a rare opportunity to engage with this now lost and most enigmatic bird."

Scientists have been trying for years to use bone fragments reconstruct what the dodo may have looked like.

"It is so rare for anyone to part with these prized items," Hyslop added, according to Reuters.

The auction will take place in London on April 24. The dodo bone is on auction with 260 other lots in the Travel, Science and Natural History sale. The items are open for public viewing from April 20.

Among other lots in the sale is a huge fossilized egg from Madagascar's extinct elephant bird, as well as old tools and maps, paintings and books.