Nepalese mammoths

Rumors of the existence of the last mammoths have circulated in Nepal for years, prompting the government to grant permission for a research expedition led by Colonel John Blashford-Snell. In 1988, the researcher received a photograph resembling a prehistoric mammoth, which initiated his search. Despite the lack of direct evidence of the mammoths' existence, the expeditions discovered large footprints and a herd of Nepalese elephants.

Rumors that the last mammoths might live in the inaccessible mountains of Nepal have circulated among the local population for a very long time. This matter caught the attention of the Nepalese government, which granted permission for a research expedition led by Colonel John Blashford-Snell. Earlier, in 1988, he received a photograph depicting an animal very similar to a prehistoric mammoth. The "mammoth" had enormous tusks, a thick tail, and a distinctive hump on its back. This image was unmistakably reminiscent of images painted on cave walls and the bodies of giant mammoths frozen and preserved to this day. The expedition failed to locate and photograph any individuals, but they did stumble upon enormous footprints. The find was so promising that a year later, in 1992, Blashford-Snell organized a second expedition to find the animal. The search proved successful, as the researcher stumbled upon a massive male Nepalese elephant. It stood 4.5 meters tall and likely weighed over 8 tons. The expedition members named it Raja Gaj. However, it wasn't alone; it was accompanied by a slightly smaller male. During a subsequent expedition in 1998, the searchers managed to see an entire herd of animals, consisting of five females and four juveniles, and the total population of these creatures was estimated at approximately 45. Another expedition to Nepal is currently being organized, which may yield more information about the species and origins of these gigantic "mammoths."