Baby Mammoth Yuka on Display in Moscow

The Yakutian baby mammoth “Yuka” delivered to the Central Artist House before the onset of the Russian Geographical Society Festival. (© RIA NOVOSTI. VITALY BELOUSOV)

The best-preserved mammoth carcass ever to be found, dubbed “Yuka” by scientists, was delivered to the Central Artist House on October 28 before the onset of the Russian Geographical Society Festival.

Landing the Yakutian baby mammoth “Yuka” outside the Central Artist House before the onset of the Russian Geographical Society Festival. (© RIA NOVOSTI. VITALY BELOUSOV)

The 39,000-year-old female baby mammoth was discovered in 2010 in Russia’s Arctic Circle by indigenous Yakut tusk-hunters.

Landing the Yakutian baby mammoth “Yuka” outside the Central Artist House before the onset of the Russian Geographical Society Festival. (© RIA NOVOSTI. VITALY BELOUSOV)

“Yuka” was delivered in a special container where the temperature is maintained at a steady -18 Celsius.

Muscovites watching biologists install the Yakutian baby mammoth “Yuka” in the Central Artist House before the onset of the Russian Geographical Society Festival. (© RIA NOVOSTI. VITALY BELOUSOV)

The mammoth was installed in a cryo-chamber at the Central Artist House expo.

The Yakutian baby mammoth “Yuka” delivered to the Central Artist House before the onset of the Russian Geographical Society Festival. (© RIA NOVOSTI. VITALY BELOUSOV)

Judging by the mammoth’s size and weight, as well as other physical characteristics, scientists deduced that “Yuka” was likely between six and 11 years of age at the time of death.

The Yakutian baby mammoth “Yuka” delivered to the Central Artist House before the onset of the Russian Geographical Society Festival. (© RIA NOVOSTI. VITALY BELOUSOV)

“Yuka” is the first mammoth carcass to be recovered with its brain intact, as the organ usually disintegrates over thousands of years even in Siberian permafrost.

The Yakutian baby mammoth “Yuka” lands outside the Central Artist House before the onset of the Russian Geographical Society Festival. (© RIA NOVOSTI. VITALY BELOUSOV)

The woolly mammoth was one of the last in line of mammoth species, becoming extinct about 4,000 years ago.