The Last Mammoths Died from 'Thirst'

It seems that one of the last remaining groups of woolly mammoths, which went extinct centuries ago, died due to thirst caused by the rising saltwater levels of seas and oceans. According to a report by AFP, researchers say these creatures, which lived on Earth around 5,600 years ago during the late Ice Age, likely became extinct due to a lack of access to fresh water. This research also warns current inhabitants of Earth that with global warming and rising ocean levels, this scenario may soon repeat itself for other animals and humans. The study was conducted on St. Paul Island, one of the remote areas of Alaska. In the past, this island was part of the land that connected America to Asia. When, between 14,700 and 13,500 years ago, the ocean waters in this region rose during the melting of the ice, this land was submerged, leaving scattered islands. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, notes that no evidence of human habitation has been found in this part of the Earth during that time. To find the reason for the extinction of these woolly mammoths, researchers collected sediments remaining from several freshwater lakes on this island. Analyzing these sediments led to the discovery of fungi that grew in the feces of these animals. Using radiocarbon dating, the age of these sediments was determined, which indicated the extinction date of these animals. The DNA remnants of woolly mammoths show that they lived in this land until about 5,650 years ago (with an approximate margin of eighty years). After this date, no traces of mammoth DNA were found on this island, indicating their extinction. The mammoths on this island survived 5,000 years longer than those on the mainland. It is likely that the mainland mammoths became extinct due to climate change and hunting. Mammoths, like today's elephants, drank nearly 200 liters of water daily. Over two thousand years, the freshwater reserves on this island dwindled significantly, leading to a decline in this group's population. Examination of the remains of teeth and other remnants in the fossils of this type of mammoth indicates drought conditions; for this reason, scientists speculate that one of the main reasons for their extinction was the lack of fresh water. Matthew Woller, one of the authors of this research from the University of Alaska, states, 'These findings present a frightening picture of the situation of these mammoths during that time.' The research emphasizes that the importance of fresh water in studying the history of animals and life on these islands has been underestimated. It also shows that the current situation of many islands and the lives of humans and animals on them is very similar to the period of melting ice during the Ice Age. Rising ocean levels lead to a decrease in freshwater reserves and ultimately pose a threat of extinction to life on land.