science ๐ Mammoths didn't die from slow inbreeding, study shows
The last woolly mammoths survived on Wrangel Island until around 4,000 years ago, after being stranded by rising sea levels. Genetic analysis of 21 mammoth genomes, published in June 2024, showed the population remained genetically stable for millennia. This finding rejects the long-held theory that slow inbreeding caused their eventual decline. Researchers now suggest a sudden environmental event, like a fire or bad weather, likely caused the population collapse. This highlights the need for ongoing genetic monitoring in modern conservation efforts. ๐ง