Horizon Season 1994 Episode 2 The Last Mammoth

The Horizon season 1994 episode 2 titled "The Last Mammoth" explores the extinction of the woolly mammoth and attempts to piece together the reasons for their demise. The episode takes us through the journey of mammoth remains which are being discovered in greater numbers than ever before. The episode draws on scientific research and the accounts of indigenous people who lived alongside mammoths for thousands of years.

The episode starts by introducing us to a groundbreaking discovery of a mammoth carcass in Siberia that was so well preserved that it still had liquid blood within its veins. It goes into the implications for science and DNA research that this discovery poses. Scientists from all over the world flock to Siberia to get their hands on the precious samples that could unlock the secrets of the mammoth's final days and how they become extinct.

The episode then takes us back towards the actual day of extinction for the mammoths. Scientists explain that the planet was going through a warming phase during the mammoth era. However, this wasn't considered all that threatening. It was believed that the mammoths had faced numerous climate changes throughout its history and had always adapted themselves to survive.

The program then explores the possibility that the extinction of the mammoth may have been a result of the interaction with humans. Remains of burnt bones were found at a mammoth site in France indicating that humans had hunted them and cooked them for their meat. The idea that humans interacted with mammoths was not new, but the discovery that humans could have played a role in their extinction was a topic of much debate among scientists.

The episode then moves towards the possible role of disease in the extinction of the mammoth. It explores the fact that the mammoth was a highly social animal and lived in herds. This increased the probability of diseases spreading within the herd. Most mammals tend to have evolved immune systems that are capable of warding off diseases. However, due to the mammoth's isolation, its immune system may have become weaker. As such, when outsiders started entering their territory, the disease could have spread faster.

The program also discusses how the climate change affected the vegetation which mammoths relied on, making it more vulnerable to disease. The plants were not getting enough nutrition, which meant that they became weaker and more susceptible to disease. Mammoths that fed on such plants became more prone to developing diseases and would pass them on to other individuals.

The episode concludes by revisiting the amazing discovery of a perfectly preserved mammoth that was only recently discovered, which gives scientists more insights into the living conditions of these animals. Scientists are continuing to gather more information about mammoths and what led to their eventual demise. The Last Mammoth is a fascinating episode that combines science, history, and paleontology to provide a well-rounded approach to the explanation of the extinction of the woolly mammoth.