Discovery of a 50,000-Year-Old Mammoth Calf in Yakutia
A team of Russian specialists has made a groundbreaking discovery at the Mammoth Museum in Yakutia, unveiling a remarkably well-preserved 50,000-year-old mammoth calf. The calf, named Yana, is considered one of the best-preserved specimens found worldwide.
Exceptional Preservation
According to Maxim Cheprasov, the head of research at the Mammoth Museum of the Federal University of Yakutia, Yana is one of only six mammoths found in good condition globally, with five discovered in Russia and one in Canada. The previous mammoth found in Russia was baby Yuka in 2010, and another baby mammoth was discovered in Batagaika in June this year.
The Batagaika Crater
The Batagaika crater, located in Eastern Siberia, is the largest permafrost crater in the world, constantly growing due to global warming. It spans over a kilometer and reaches depths of up to 100 meters.
Characteristics of the Mammoth Calf
Yana, the little mammoth, stands 1.2 meters tall and weighs approximately 180 kilograms. Although the exact age has not been determined, it is estimated to be around one year or slightly older. Cheprasov noted that mammoth calves grew faster than modern-day horses, bison, and wolves due to the harsh climatic conditions, requiring rapid growth before the cold winters.
The Discovery
The discovery of Yana was made by residents of the town of Batagai, who were at the right place at the right time to witness half of the body emerging from the crater wall at a depth of 40 meters. Due to the weight and pressure of the earth, Yana’s body split in half, with the first part falling to the bottom of the crater and the second part, including her pelvis and hind limbs, remaining in the permafrost and later recovered by specialists.
A Unique Event
Anatoly Nikolaev, the rector of the Federal University of Yakutia, emphasized that a discovery like this is extremely rare and relies on chance and luck. He noted that if the discovery had occurred several days or weeks later, the preservation would not have been as remarkable. This find is a unique event not only for the university but also for Russian and world science.