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You left out the part about bringing the mammoth to Siberia. They're probably referring to the status of Russia's leader as persona non grata pretty much worldwide.
The article says the mammoth's migration pattern would be beneficial to far northern regions. How so?
I don't think their reintroduction is a good idea. Perhaps its saving grace could be that the presence of these animals would retard humans' inclination to despoil arctic regions, one way or another.
Exactly. "Colossal calls the woolly mammoth’s vast migration patterns an active part of preserving the health of the Arctic, and so bringing the animal back to life can have a beneficial impact on the health of the world’s ecosystem."
I would really like him to elaborate on that.
I think we need to step back and think about just how much of the planet man has conquered, encroached upon and destroyed (and is still destroying). Destroyed in that we have changed it from its natural state which was the natural habitat, food sources, and home ranges that provided an ecosystem in which many species survived.
For many current species, we had to set aside preserves and develop controlled hunts to maintain populations. We are in battle with more adaptable species when they "invade" our habitat, trapping, relocating, killing, and hitting them with our modes of transportation.
Introducing long extinct species IMO will only upset what balance we have at this point.
I'm all for mankind fixing its mistakes. If man caused a creature to become extinct and has the technology to bring it back, then that's what should happen, IMO. I see nothing morally wrong with it, but just the opposite. It would be morally wrong not to bring them back since if not for the stupidity of people, they would still be here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by marino760
There is much scientific research now showing humans played a significant role in the extinction of the woolly mammoth.
Just one month prior to the publication of the article you link, Nature published a broader study (not directly related to any one species) concluding the opposite. I'd say it's unsettled science more than anything else at this point.
Our key findings include: (1) a relatively homogeneous steppe–tundra flora dominated the Arctic during the Last Glacial Maximum, followed by regional divergence of vegetation during the Holocene epoch; (2) certain grazing animals consistently co-occurred in space and time; (3) humans appear to have been a minor factor in driving animal distributions; (4) higher effective precipitation, as well as an increase in the proportion of wetland plants, show negative effects on animal diversity; (5) the persistence of the steppe–tundra vegetation in northern Siberia enabled the late survival of several now-extinct megafauna species, including the woolly mammoth until 3.9 ± 0.2 thousand years ago (ka) and the woolly rhinoceros until 9.8 ± 0.2 ka...
Is reviving an extinct species to be kept in a zoo really any different than protecting in a zoo a specimen of a species about to go extinct?
BTW-- if they brought he topic of ,,saving the world from climate change,, into the conversation, those are the magic words thses days used to get grant money. They could have used the words ,cure for cancer,, but that would be even more of a stretch.
Is reviving an extinct species to be kept in a zoo really any different than protecting in a zoo a specimen of a species about to go extinct?
BTW-- if they brought he topic of ,,saving the world from climate change,, into the conversation, those are the magic words thses days used to get grant money. They could have used the words ,cure for cancer,, but that would be even more of a stretch.
Also "diversity", as in biodiversity.
Also, science for the sake of science! America and Europe used to be all about science. It's what drove us to great discoveries that advanced civilization.
Now we're more about "Should we do it? Nah, because we're afraid!"
Did it ever had any? For some reason I think they were at the top of the food chain.
From what I understand mammoths were herbivores, which are never on top of the food chain. The dire wolf was of a sufficient size to take on mammoths, and wolves, in packs, could presumably tire a mammoth enough in snow to make a kill.
From what I understand mammoths were herbivores, which are never on top of the food chain. The dire wolf was of a sufficient size to take on mammoths, and wolves, in packs, could presumably tire a mammoth enough in snow to make a kill.
Possibly, except that the dire wolf evolved in North America.
Also, science for the sake of science! America and Europe used to be all about science. It's what drove us to great discoveries that advanced civilization.
Now we're more about "Should we do it? Nah, because we're afraid!"
Possibly, except that the dire wolf evolved in North America.
Mammoths were in North America too at the same time as other large mammals and early Native Americans. There were several carnivores which could prey on young mammoths separated from the herd like lions do today in Africa and tigers do in Asia with elephants. Wolves would do that now if young mammoths were available to hunt in North America and the Grizzly bear would also play a role with baby mammoths and perhaps even polar bears if a mammoth's range is far enough into their territory.
It would take a massive international effort to reintroduce mammoths to Alaska, Canada, Siberia and even northern Scandinavia but I don't think it's impossible just very, very unlikely. It would take decades of growing small herds and releasing them. You can't have 2-3 of them and then release them into the wild. They need to be in herds to survive. Like elephants, mammoths grow slowly and only have one offspring every few years.
It's been done with the California condor (largest bird in North America) which was down to only about 20 birds left alive in Ventura county. They were bred in captivity and then with enough numbers slowly released to their previous territory from centuries ago including the Grand Canyon and the Pacific Northwest. But mammoths being what they are, would take a monumental effort over a few generations.
Last edited by marino760; 03-11-2024 at 10:55 AM..
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