Woolly Mammoth

Woolly mammoths were huge, hairy relatives of modern elephants. They lived during the Ice Age, from about 400,000 to 4,000 years ago. Their thick fur kept them warm in freezing cold climates. Some mammoths were still alive when the Egyptian pyramids were being built!

Built for the Cold

Woolly mammoths had thick, shaggy fur up to 3 feet long. They also had a layer of fat under their skin up to 4 inches thick. Their ears were small to prevent heat loss. Their tusks could be over 15 feet long and curved. They used their tusks to sweep snow off grass.

Frozen in Time

Because mammoths lived in cold places, some have been found frozen in ice. These frozen mammoths still have their fur, skin, and even food in their stomachs! Scientists have studied their DNA. Some scientists are even trying to bring them back using modern technology.

Fun Facts

• Some woolly mammoths were still alive 4,000 years ago on a small island in the Arctic.
• Frozen mammoths have been found so well preserved that their meat still looks fresh.
• Cave paintings made by early humans show woolly mammoths.

Did You Know?

Scientists have found woolly mammoth DNA so well preserved in ice that some researchers are working on a project to bring them back to life! They want to create a mammoth-elephant hybrid.