Random Facts About Woolly Mammoths That Might Explain Why They Became Extinct (11 items)

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  (#1) A Mammoth Bone Pit In Mexico City Suggests Some Of Them Got Stuck In The Mud

  The remains of more than 60 mammoths were discovered in Mexico City by the National Institute of Anthropology and History in May 2020. The bones are estimated to be about 15,000 to 20,000 years old, and were uncovered near previously excavated human-built traps. According to The Associated Press, the site was once a shallow lake that would have been appealing for the species because of the available grasses and reeds. There, "archeologists are facing a surfeit of mammoths, almost too many to ever excavate."

  Though the previously uncovered remains apparently perished at the hands of human hunters, the 60 new fossils did not have any of the distinct markings that would suggest human involvement. Instead, they likely "got stuck in the mud of the ancient lake and died, or were eaten by other animals."
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  (#2) Genetic Defects May Have Led To Their Extinction

  Just before the woolly mammoths went extinct they went into what has been described as a "genomic meltdown." As their populations diminished rapidly and only small groups survived, their gene diversity was dramatically reduced. This led to significant mutations in their DNA; these genetic defects would have caused the animals to lose their sense of smell and change their social behavior. 

  "There was this huge excess of what looked like bad mutations in the genome of the mammoth," said Dr. Rebekah Rogers, a researcher from the University of California, Berkeley. "We found these bad mutations were accumulating in the mammoth genome right before they went extinct."

  In 2020, researchers with the University of Chicago published a study in which they successfully resurrected mammoth genes from the last known population of the species on Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean. The goal was "to test whether their mutations actually were damaging," said lead author and assistant professor of biological sciences Vincent Lynch, since most mutations have little to no actual effect.

  The study compared the Wrangel Island mammoth genes to that of similar populations such as Asian elephants and two other mammoth species. Using the synthesized altered genes of the Wrangel Island mammoths, researchers were able to visually see how they interacted with other molecules. 

  The results of the 2020 study complement Rogers's theory. Lynch concluded that "the last mammoths may have been pretty sick and unable to smell flowers [which they ate for food], so that’s just sad." 
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  (#3) Mammoth Fossils Overwhelmingly Belong To Males

  One of the most puzzling things about the woolly mammoth is that the vast majority of fossils found are from male mammoths. In most other species, the fossil record would show an even amount of both sexes as long as there was a roughly equal number of each sex.

  “We were very surprised because there was no reason to expect a sex bias in the fossil record,” said study author Patricia Pecnerova. With 69% of all fossils found belonging to male mammoths, researchers have worked hard to find a compelling explanation.
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  (#4) Males Would Wander Around Alone

  One theory to explain the predominance of male fossils is that males were more likely to roam around by themselves. This meant they would not be part of a herd, which could have provided protection from predators and the collective intelligence to avoid potential threats.

  “Without the benefit of living in a herd led by an experienced female, male mammoths may have had a higher risk of dying in natural traps such as bogs, crevices, and lakes,” said Love Dalen of the Swedish Museum of Natural History.
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  (#5) Females Generally Moved Around In Herds

  While males were often caught up in hazards that would lead to natural preservation, such as bogs and lakes, this usually wasn't the case with female mammoths, which were generally more risk-averse.

  The females would normally move around in large herds led by an older matriarch. They were more capable of avoiding potentially threatening situations, like thin ice or mud flows, because they were more aware of environmental dangers.
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  (#6) Mammoths Were As Intelligent As Modern Elephants

  A study conducted in Russia in 2015 suggested that mammoths were likely just as intelligent as modern-day African elephants.

  Comparing the brains of a preserved woolly mammoth known as Yuka with elephant specimens from South Africa, researchers found them almost identical in size and structure, which means they likely had similar cognitive abilities.
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  (#7) A Number Of Factors Led To Their Demise

  Woolly mammoths were common throughout North America and Siberia for hundreds of thousands of years. The giant creatures began to die out around 20,000 years ago, however, and are believed to have become extinct 4,000 years ago when the last of a few isolated groups disappeared.

  No one reason is to blame for their extinction. Although humans lived alongside the animals for thousands of years, people likely played a significant part in mammoths' demise due to hunting. Yet climate change may have been the defining factor that wiped out the mammoths. As the planet gradually became warmer, the natural environment for the mammoth would have severely shrunk, leaving them with little habitat to live in.
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  (#8) They Had A Number Of Evolutionary Adaptations To Protect Against The Cold

  Even though woolly mammoths superficially resemble modern-day elephants, their biology wasn't the same because they lived in vastly different conditions. Some of the more obvious differences include much smaller ears and tails, which helped to conserve heat and fight against frostbite.

  More impressive, though, was a genetic mutation that essentially created a natural form of antifreeze in the animals' blood to allow them to transport oxygen within the body during extreme cold. Three unique amino acids found in frozen specimens allowed the hemoglobin in the blood to continue to function effectively.
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  (#9) Bringing Back The Furry Animals May Soon Be A Reality

  The fact that so many woolly mammoth specimens and fossils have survived in great condition has given scientists plenty of genetic material to study. This in turn has led to hopes that the animal could be brought back from extinction.

  Using a new genetic splicing tool known as Crispr, scientists at Harvard are confident that they will be able to infuse certain woolly mammoth genes into the embryos of Asian elephants, creating a hybrid animal that would essentially be a cross between the two animals. It would look very much like a modern elephant but include some traits - such as small ears and a long, furry coat - of the mammoth.
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  (#10) Woolly Mammoths Are One Of The Most Studied Prehistoric Animals

  The woolly mammoth is one of the most studied prehistoric animals in history not because of its distinctive appearance or because it's particularly interesting to researchers. Instead, woolly mammoth remains have been well preserved because the animals lived in such cold environments.

  The freezing temperatures meant that fossils survived in excellent condition, with skeletons, tusks, dung, and even flesh staying frozen for thousands of years.
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  (#11) Early Humans Had A Long Relationship With Mammoths

  Woolly mammoths and humans coexisted for thousands of years, which led led to a unique relationship where mammoths were an important source of food and material. In fact, cave paintings in France and other areas show just how closely people lived with mammoths. In addition to using the mammoths' flesh for meat, humans used the tusks and bones to make tools and jewelry, and the fur and hides to build dwellings or create warm clothing.

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