Perfectly preserved 30,000 year old baby mammoth found in Canada

The discovery was made in the Canadian Klondike region in the Yukon Territory, near Alaska. The baby mammoth is probably female and scientists believe that it must have been frozen more than 30,000 years ago, during the Ice Age. But the element that surprises researchers the most is the state of conservation of this baby mammoth. Indeed, its skin is almost intact. It is also the most complete specimen of its kind found to date in North America, and only the second such discovery in the world!

Named 'Nun cho ga'

Following this incredible discovery, scientists were eager to name it. The baby mammoth was named ‘Nun cho ga, which means ‘big baby animal’ in Hän language, a local First Nations language. Yukon palaeontologist Grant Zazula described the find as ‘a dream come true’. He said in a statement:

Nun cho ga is magnificent and is one of the most incredible mummified Ice Age animals ever discovered in the world

A series of analyses should soon reveal more about the prehistoric baby, whose skin and hair are intact. The mummified animal was discovered on the summer solstice, which is also National Aboriginal Peoples' Day in Canada. As per CNN, the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Chief said:

We look forward to working with the Yukon government on the next steps for these remains in a way that honours our traditions, culture and laws

Similar discoveries

Another baby mammoth, nicknamed Effie, was also found in 1948 in a gold mine in Alaska. More recently, in 2007, in Siberia, a 42,000-year-old mummified specimen nicknamed Lyuba was also discovered. The Yukon Territory is known around the world for its ice age animal fossils, but ‘mummified remains with skin and hair are rarely unearthed’, said the Yukon government.

This article is translated from Gentside FR.

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