Have you ever come across an animal species known as the woolly mammoth? It’s closest extant relative in the present day is the Asian elephant. Not many people know of the existence of this magnificent creature as it went extinct approximately 10,000 years ago. Archaeological excavations found that the animal looked uncannily like our present day elephants with the exception that woolly mammoths donned a thick fur coat and had huge tusks averaging over 2.5 meters long.
Their tusks were made from ivory just like the elephants in our world today.
Most of the bones and tusks of the mammoth that are found in this age are in pristine condition as they are preserved under the ice of areas with colder climates where they used to inhabit like modern-day Siberia
Since the ivory and bones of the species survived, many inhabitants of the Siberian region, especially those living in coastal areas, have taken the opportunity to seek and collect the mammoth’s ivory tusks and bones
Modern-day elephant’s ancestor species known as the woolly mammoth went extinct approximately 10,000 years ago
The large ivory tusks of the woolly mammoth is said to be much larger than the tusks of African elephants today
Although this species went extinct millennia’s ago, their valuable ivory tusks are still in pristine condition
Their situation changed when foreigners thought they could try their luck finding these precious items. They came to the area during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Locals rely on searching for this species’ tusks and bones to acquire wealth
When global temperatures increased in recent decades, many of the frozen grounds in Siberia melted.
This has caused more of the mammoth’s tusks and bones to surface
Many residents leave their work and choose to go in search for woolly mammoth carcasses.
It is far more lucrative and since the frozen wasteland’s temperatures are slowly rising, their search has become somewhat easier
The woolly mammoth’s ivory tusks that has been preserved under numerous layers of frozen soil is said to have medicinal properties.
The local’s excavation activities has led to a reduction in the overall poverty rate
Ivory can also be carved in order to make large quantities of high value works of art and there is evidence of this being done during the era of the Roman civilization.
Mammoth tusks are far larger than the elephants today therefore they will fetch higher prices in the market
It is no wonder that ivory is sold for exorbitant prices! Not only does it look good and last for ages, it also comes with its own history
