January 7, 2008

A Mammoth Discovery

The frozen remains of a Siberian baby mammoth may unlock the answers to the species' extinction

By Vickie An

There's a mammoth-sized mystery to be solved, and an infant could hold some very important clues. The nearly intact frozen body of a baby woolly mammoth, currently undergoing tests in Japan, could finally explain why the giant creatures disappeared, scientists said on January 4. Researchers also believe that the discovery could help shed light on the history of climate change.

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI—AP Naoki Suzuki (left), a professor at Japan’s Jikei University, presents 3-D X-ray images of the remains of a frozen baby mammoth found in northern Siberia.

The 6-month-old calf, nicknamed "Lyuba," was unearthed last May by a reindeer herder in the remote Yamal-Nenets region of northern Siberia. The animal had been preserved under the icy Siberian permafrost for some 37,500 years. Permafrost is soil that remains frozen all year round.

The 4-foot gray-and-brown carcass's trunk and eyes are almost entirely intact, and it even has some fur. But it appears that the tail and ears were bitten off. Other mammoth carcasses have been found, but none are as nearly complete as Lyuba. According to Sergey Grishin, director of the Shemanovsky Yamal-Nenets Museum, the baby mammoth is the best-preserved mammoth ever discovered.

"Lyuba's discovery is an historic event," said Bernard Buigues, vice president of the International Mammoth Committee, based in Geneva, Italy. "It could tell us why this species didn't survive . . . and shed light on the fate of human beings."

An Inside Look

Lyuba arrived in Tokyo, Japan, at the end of December, and underwent a computer x-ray scan that created 3-D images of the insides of its body. The scans give a detailed view into the animal's internal organs and structure. Analyzing the images will help scientists determine the baby's diet and why it died. They will also study tiny air samples left in Lyuba's lungs to get a better idea of what the earth's atmosphere was like during the last Ice Age.

Naoki Suzuki, a professor at Japan's Jikei University School of Medicine, is leading the first part of the international study of the baby mammoth. Scientists from the United States, Canada, Russia and other European countries are also expected to participate in the research. Initial results are expected in October.

"This is what we've all been waiting for - the chance to explain everything about the mammoth," Suzuki said. "Our findings will be a big step toward resolving the mystery of their extinction."

The Great Debate

The last of the ancient animals are believed to have roamed the earth from about 4.8 million years ago to 4,000 years ago. Researchers have long argued about whether the species' extinction was due to climate change or over-hunting by humans. They hope that Lyuba will give them more answers.

Meanwhile, the baby mammoth is on public exhibit at the Science Museum in Tokyo until late February. Curious children peered into the animal's chilly freezer display. "It looked amazing, almost like it was alive," said 10-year-old Chikara Shimizu.

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