Michil Yakovlev / North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk
Yana, the baby mammoth found in Russia.
Russian scientists have revealed the remains of an incredibly well-preserved baby mammoth discovered in the Yakutia region of Siberia.
The specimen, a 50,000-year-old female nicknamed Yanais being hailed as the best-preserved mammoth carcass ever discovered.
Yana, named after the watershed where she was found earlier this year, is one of only seven fully intact mammoth remains recovered worldwide. The mammoth has 120 cm high, 200 cm long and weighs 180 kg.
Initial estimates suggest that Yana was around one year old at the time of her death, and studies are underway to confirm her exact age, reveals AFP.
“We were all surprised by the exceptional preservation of the mammoth”said Anatoly Nikolayev, rector of the Northeast Federal University in Yakutsk, where the discovery was displayed. Maksim Cheprasov, a researcher at the university, described the discovery as “unique”.
Yana’s remains were excavated near the Batagaika research station, an area already known for its prehistoric treasures. In addition to the mammoth, scientists had previously discovered fossils of other ancient animals, including a horse, a bison and a lemming.
This reinforces Yakutia’s reputation as a privileged place for the preservation of prehistoric life. Located in a remote region bordering the Arctic Ocean, Yakutia’s permafrost acts as a natural preserver, halting decomposition and preserving human remains for tens of thousands of years.
Investigators now hope to obtain more information about Yana, including the environment, diet and healthas well as broader information about the ecosystem in which it lived.
