The woolly mammoth is an extinct species of mammoth a large mammal that lived during the Pleistocene epoch that was adapted to the cold climate of the last ice age. It had thick, shaggy fur and long, curved tusks. Its closest living relative is the modern Asian elephant. Scientists believe that the species died out due to climatic change and a decrease in available food sources.
Woolly mammoths are iconic symbols of the last Ice Age. Excavations of preserved specimens of the species have provided scientists with valuable knowledge about the habits, diet, and the evolution of the mammoth. Its fossilized remains are a source of fascination and a reminder of the fragility of today's ecosystems.