Russian scientists have retrieved the nearly complete remains of a woolly mammoth in Russia. The Siberian mammoth remains are so well-preserved that they still have flesh and hair. These remains are up to 10,000 years old and they could play an important role in the international race to recreate prehistoric beasts in laboratories. The remains of the prehistoric creature were found not far from the village of Seyakha. The find was first spotted by members of a local indigenous community in Lake Pechenelava, on the Yamal Peninsula. Siberia has been unusually warm this summer with massive wildfires in many areas of this remote and vast region. However, the hot weather also made it possible to release the Siberian mammoth remains from the permafrost.

The yellow soft tissues preserved on bone piece that was part of the newly discovered woolly mammoth found in Siberia. (Image: Artem Cheremisov / Siberian Times)

This Ancient Mammoth’s Soft Tissues Are Perfect for Cloning

However, this amazing find is particularly important because it provides superbly preserved dead mammoth DNA which can be used in cloning experiments. Teams, from Russia, USA, Japan, and South Korea are all desperately trying to clone ancient animals in test-tubes. The soft tissue found on Tadibe could provide the DNA key for researchers to bring woolly mammoths back to life, much like the movie Jurassic Park. The Russian federal government has funded a laboratory in Siberia to help them to win the race to clone a mammoth, which has become a matter of national prestige.