Researchers in Siberia are currently conducting tests on the remarkably well-preserved remains of a juvenile mammoth. The mammoth, whose carcass is estimated to be over 50,000 years old, was discovered in thawing permafrost, an area that is rapidly changing due to climate change.
Location of Discovery
The mammoth remains were found in the Batagaika crater, a large depression that is more than 80 meters (260 feet) deep. This crater is expanding as a result of the warming climate, revealing ancient remains trapped in the permafrost.
Mammoth’s Condition and Significance
The juvenile mammoth, which weighed over 110 kg (240 pounds), was recovered from the permafrost on an improvised stretcher. Maxim Cherpasov, head of the Lazarev Mammoth Museum Laboratory in Yakutsk, confirmed that the mammoth was likely just over a year old when it died. While the exact age will be determined through tests, the preservation of its head and trunk is particularly noteworthy.
Unusual Preservation of the Mammoth
Cherpasov pointed out that it is rare for the trunk of a mammoth to be preserved, as it is typically the first part to thaw and is often consumed by predators or birds. In this case, despite some damage to the forelimbs, the head and trunk have remained in exceptional condition.
Other Ancient Discoveries in the Region
This discovery follows a series of other significant finds in the Sakha or Yakutia region. Last month, scientists unveiled the remains of a 32,000-year-old sabre-toothed cat cub, and earlier this year, the carcass of a 44,000-year-old wolf was uncovered.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
1. Where were the remains of the juvenile mammoth discovered?
A) In the Siberian mountains
B) In the Batagaika crater
C) In the Sakha River
D) In the Yakutsk forest
Answer: B) In the Batagaika crater
2. How old is the mammoth believed to be?
A) 10,000 years old
B) 50,000 years old
C) 1,000 years old
D) 100,000 years old
Answer: B) 50,000 years old
3. What part of the mammoth remains is particularly well-preserved?
A) The tail
B) The trunk and head
C) The forelimbs
D) The tusk
Answer: B) The trunk and head
4. What is the weight of the juvenile mammoth’s carcass?
A) 50 kg
B) 110 kg
C) 240 kg
D) 500 kg
Answer: B) 110 kg
5. What other ancient animal remains were discovered in the same region earlier this year?
A) A 10,000-year-old saber-toothed tiger
B) A 44,000-year-old wolf
C) A 100,000-year-old mammoth
D) A 50,000-year-old sabre-toothed cat
Answer: B) A 44,000-year-old wolf