Prague, Czech Republic – Two of Ethiopia’s most iconic ancestral remains, Lucy and Selam, have touched down in Europe for a rare exhibition at the National Museum in Prague, drawing global attention to Ethiopia’s role as the cradle of humankind.



The fossils, flown in on a special Ethiopian Airlines flight, received meticulous care upon arrival at Václav Havel International Airport before being escorted to the museum. For the next two months, they will be displayed under the watchful protection of URNA, the Czech Republic’s elite rapid response unit—an extraordinary level of security usually reserved for embassies in war zones such as Afghanistan and Iraq.



While Prague is considered one of Europe’s safest capitals, the deployment of URNA highlights the immense cultural and scientific value of these remains. With only about 100 members, URNA’s presence underscores how seriously the Czech Republic treats the responsibility of hosting these irreplaceable treasures.



For visitors, the exhibition offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see Lucy and Selam—fossils that tell the story of humanity’s earliest steps—safely displayed at the heart of Central Europe.