Baby Mammoth Remains Discovered in Russia
By VOA News
11 July 2007
The carcass of a baby mammoth is examined in the Russian, Arctic city of Salekhard
Russian scientists have announced the discovery of a frozen baby mammoth in the permafrost of a remote region of northern Siberia.
The Deputy Director of the Russian Academy of Science's Zoological Institute, Alexei Thikhonov, said Wednesday that the 1.5-meter carcass is very well preserved. The institute has been taking care of the female baby mammoth since its discovery in May. A local resident of Russia's arctic Yamal-Nents region found it by accident.
Tikhonov said the carcass, which has been frozen for thousands of years, will enable scientists to conduct unprecedented biological and other research.
He said the mammoth will be sent to an institute in Japan for further study.
The prehistoric animal has been extinct for about 4,000 years. Elephants are the mammoth's closest related species living today.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters
source:
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