Scientists in Bolivia have announced a groundbreaking discovery: the largest collection of dinosaur footprints ever found. Paleontologists working in Toro Toro National Park, located in the Bolivian Andes, have uncovered more than 16,000 remarkably preserved footprints belonging to theropods—the dinosaur family that includes the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex.  

Researchers believe the tracks were left millions of years ago as dinosaurs attempted to swim across ancient lakes in the region. The animals pressed into the muddy lakebeds, leaving detailed impressions that were later sealed and protected as water levels rose, preserving them through the ages.  

The sheer number and clarity of the prints provide paleontologists with an unprecedented window into the movement, behavior, and environment of carnivorous dinosaurs. Experts say the Toro Toro site may become one of the most important paleontological landmarks in South America, offering new insights into the ecosystems that existed in the Andes long before human history began.  

The discovery underscores Bolivia’s growing significance in dinosaur research and highlights the global importance of preserving fossil-rich environments for scientific study.