Rare Fruit Sold for $1,000 in Indonesia

In this AP photo taken on November 25, 2017, a cut Musang King durian is shown by a vendor during the International Durian Cultural Tourism Festival in Bentong, Malaysia.
In this AP photo taken on November 25, 2017, a cut Musang King durian is shown by a vendor during the International Durian Cultural Tourism Festival in Bentong, Malaysia.
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Rare Fruit Sold for $1,000 in Indonesia

In this AP photo taken on November 25, 2017, a cut Musang King durian is shown by a vendor during the International Durian Cultural Tourism Festival in Bentong, Malaysia.
In this AP photo taken on November 25, 2017, a cut Musang King durian is shown by a vendor during the International Durian Cultural Tourism Festival in Bentong, Malaysia.

A mall in an Indonesian town displayed some rare Durian fruits, which have the most powerful smell in the world and have a huge popularity in southeastern Asia. The special fruits are being sold for $1,000 apiece.

The German News Agency reported that the store located in Tasikmalaya, managed to sell two of this fruit known as "J Queen" from the first day, despite its high price -14 million rupees (over $1000) apiece - according to the Compas.com website.

The fruit price caused a significant debate in the town, where the minimum monthly wage is two million rupees (around $142).

The local media reported that some of the mall visitors came and took pictures with the singular fruit. A social media user said on Twitter: "I would rather buy a motorcycle. At least, I can use it for ten years."

Aka, discoverer of the royal type of the Durian fruit, said it has a very special peanut butter-like taste. It comes in a round form, unlike the regular Durian, which usually comes in an oval form.

Aka, 32, an Indonesian psychology graduate, explained that the "J-Queen" fruit has these unique characteristics because it is a hybrid of two good types of Durian in Indonesia.



Peru Scientists Unveil Crocodile Fossil Up to 12 Million Years Old

Paleontologists unveil the fossil of a young marine crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years discovered in Peru. Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP
Paleontologists unveil the fossil of a young marine crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years discovered in Peru. Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP
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Peru Scientists Unveil Crocodile Fossil Up to 12 Million Years Old

Paleontologists unveil the fossil of a young marine crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years discovered in Peru. Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP
Paleontologists unveil the fossil of a young marine crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years discovered in Peru. Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP

Paleontologists unveiled on Wednesday the fossil of a young marine crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years that was discovered in a Peruvian desert.
The fossil of the gharial -- or fish-eating -- crocodile, around three meters long (nearly 10 feet), was discovered late 2023 in perfect condition in Peru's Ocucaje desert, around 350 kilometers (190 miles) south of the capital Lima, AFP said.
"This is the first time we found a juvenile of this species, that is to say, it had not reached its maximum size yet. It died before that," vertebrate paleontologist Mario Gamarra told a news conference.
The skull and jaws of these specimens differed from that of today's crocodiles and alligators, according to Gamarra, who headed the reconstruction of the fossil.
"They had an elongated snout and their diet was entirely piscivorous, feeding on fish," said Gamarra.
"The closest current relative to this crocodile would be the Indian gharial," he added.
The discovery was made jointly by Peru's Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute and the La Union school.
Peru's Ocucaje desert is rich in fossils, such as four-legged dwarf whales, dolphins, sharks and other species from the Miocene period -- between 5 and 23 million years ago -- that were previously discovered there.