A miner in Canada went prospecting for gold and found something even rarer – a mummified baby mammoth.
The 30,000-year-old female mammoth was found frozen in the Klondike Goldfields in the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin Traditional Territory.
The tiny creature was named nun cho ga, which means “big baby animal” in the Hän language, according to the Yukon government.
In creepy-looking images released by scientists who helped recover Nun cho ga, her skin and hair can be seen still attached – meaning she was almost perfectly preserved.
Nun cho ga died and was frozen in permafrost at least 30,000 years ago. In her lifetime, she would have trekked across Canada during the Ice Age.
The paleontologist Dr. Grant Zazula told The Weather Channel that the woolly mammoth’s baby was found with grass in her intestines.
Zazula believes the mammoth, just over four feet long, most likely died after becoming stuck in the mud.
The paleontologist estimates that Nun Cho Ga was probably around 30 to 35 days old when she died.
“As an Ice Age paleontologist, one of my lifelong dreams has been to come face-to-face with an actual woolly mammoth,” Zazula said.
“Today that dream came true. Nun Cho Ga is beautiful and one of the most incredible mummified Ice Age animals ever discovered in the world. I look forward to getting to know her better.”
Zazula is not alone in his excitement, as other members of the Yukon community have been overwhelmed by the remarkable discovery.
“There’s going to be one thing that stands out in a person’s entire life and I can guarantee you that’s my only thing,” said Brian McCaughan of Treadstone Mining.
Going forward, the Yukon government plans to work with the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin community to preserve and study the mummified creature.
“We look forward to working with the Yukon government on the next steps in the process to move forward with these remains in a way that honors our traditions, culture and laws,” said Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Chief Roberta Joseph.
“We are grateful for the elders who have guided us thus far and for the name they have given us.
“We pledge to treat Nun Cho Ga with respect as she has now decided to reveal herself to all of us.”
This story originally appeared on The Sun and is reproduced here with permission.