Instead of finding real gold on the longest day of the year, miners who were looking for scientific riches did. They discovered a frozen newborn mammoth in the Trondk Hwchin Traditional Territory in Yukon, Canada. Based on the permafrost area it was buried in, experts estimate its age to be at least 30,000 years old. Nun cho ga, which in the Hän language means “large infant animal,” is the name given to it by elders. Even while permafrosts have the ability to preserve things, it is uncommon to find Ice Age creatures with skin and hair. The Government of Yukon and Trondk Hwchin referred to Nun cho ga as “The most complete mummified mammoth unearthed in North America” in a joint statement.
The newborn mammoth, which is thought to be a female, adds to the discovery’s emotional, if not scientific, significance. Many people have expressed enthusiasm at the finding. For our First Nation, this is a tremendous turnaround, according to Trondk Hwchin Chief Roberta Joseph. We are eager to work with the Yukon government to determine the best method to proceed with these remains while respecting our customs, laws, and culture.
“Meeting a real woolly mammoth has always been one of my lifelong fantasies as an ice period palaeontologist. Today, that wish came true. Nun cho ga is a stunning specimen and one of the most amazing ice age creatures to have ever been found mummified “The Yukon Government Palaeontology Program’s Dr. Grant Zazula was also mentioned. “I can’t wait to know her more. When the appeal went out for any geologists in the vicinity who could assist rescue the mummies before it thawed, Professor Dan Shugar of the University of Calgary and two students, Holly Basiuk and Jackson Bodtker, just so happened to be working in Dawson.
The timing, according to Shugar, was perfect since we unexpectedly had to rearrange our plans and join in on the emergency recovery of a newborn mammoth. Even highly significant fossil bones sometimes remain in the earth for years after being discovered, but Nun cho ga’s excavation was completed in three days to prevent decomposition, which worked out just as well.
Although they are rare, nearly whole mammoths had previously been discovered in Siberia; nonetheless, this is the first discovery of its kind in North America. The nearest comparable earlier find was a largely preserved cow with the name of Effie. The fact that it was found 74 years ago shows how uncommon such discoveries are. Nun cho ga should be amenable to DNA extraction, as has been done with numerous other previously frozen mammoths, due to its exceptional preservation.
The argument about cloning mammoths and transferring the embryo into elephants in order to create a hybrid species that is capable of repopulating the tundra is predicted to heat up as a result of this, even though it will undoubtedly have positive scientific effects. Such creatures could be beneficial for ecosystems in the far north, possibly even delaying the release of greenhouse gases that have become trapped in the permafrost like Nun cho ga. But there are significant financial, moral, and technical barriers. We cannot claim that we were not told about the risks involved with reviving massive, long-dead beasts if something goes wrong.
