Scientists have discovered the remarkably well-preserved remains of a baby mammoth in Russia’s Sakha (Yakutia) Republic, a region infamous for its freezing temperatures. The mammoth, thought to have lived around 50,000 years ago during the Ice Age, offers a rare glimpse into the distant past.
According to Izvestia, Northeastern Federal University in Yakutia announced on Monday (local time) that researchers had uncovered the remains of a one-year-old female baby mammoth. The remains measured 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) high, 2 meters (6.6 feet) long, and 180 kilograms (397 pounds) in weight. Scientists plan to conduct radiocarbon dating next year to determine the mammoth’s exact age.
The remains were uncovered in June in the Batagayka crater in the northern part of Yakutia. As the permafrost began to thaw during the summer months, local residents exposed and discovered the carcass. The scientists believe that the thawing process caused the remains to split in half, with the front portion detaching first. Local residents delivered the hind legs and pelvic area to researchers in October for further examination.
The research team named the baby mammoth Yana after the nearby Yana River. The remains are currently displayed at the Mammoth Museum at Northeastern Federal University.
It is extremely rare to find a well-preserved Ice Age mammoth carcass. This is the seventh discovery, with previous finds including five in Russia and one in Canada.
Maksim Cheprasov, head of the Mammoth Museum, said, “We can say it is one of the best-ever found in the world.” He emphasized that all of the organs were intact and noted that the preservation of the head was particularly remarkable. Cheprasov explained that the trunk, mouth, ears, and eye sockets are all preserved, and there are no signs of predation.
According to AFP, the permafrost in the Batagaika region acts like a massive natural freezer, preserving the remains of various prehistoric animals. In addition to the baby mammoth, the area has yielded the remains of other ancient animals, including bison, musk oxen, and lemmings, providing valuable insight into the ecosystem of the Ice Age.
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